Joan Campbell, a world-renowned potter and highly- respected advocate of the arts in Australia died on 5 March 1997. She was an eminent figure in Australian craft for over three decades and exhibited both nationally and overseas.

She came to pottery in 1960 as a means of recovering from an illness. What started as a hobby became an enduring passion. Her work was remarkable for its ability to reflect her local landscape marking her work as uniquely Western Australian. She experimented with technique and was the first potter to have solo exhibitions of Raku pottery in Australia. A member of the Australia Council's Visual Arts/Craft Fund and personal friend, Bronwyn Goss, has described her as "fearless in approaching the unknown."

Joan Campbell was also a gifted public speaker who had a special regard for her fellow artists. She was an inaugural member of the Australia Council's Crafts Board from 1972 to 1974, a Council member from 1973 to 1977, and a member of the Council's Community Arts Board from 1981 to 1984. 

The Australia Council's General Manager, at the time, Michael Lynch described Joan Campbell, "as an artist, teacher and active political campaigner for the arts in Australia, (whose) influence

on craft practice in Australia is inestimable." In 1978 she was awarded an MBE for services to the arts. She received an Emeritus Award from Council's Visual Arts/Craft Fund for her outstanding contribution to the arts. She also won a 1997 Western Australian Citizen of the Year Award for Arts, Culture and Entertainment.

“She saw in others their own creative strength and ability and helped them believe in it for themselves. Joan had a special ability to be able to impart and communicate, not only to artists, but also to the corporate and government sectors, the magic of the creative spirit. She enabled people to sense and value that, both in themselves, and within the Australian culture.”

Joan Campbell had an extraordinary creative energy and passion for life. She communicated the principles of simplicity, harmony and wholesomeness and demonstrated a deep affinity with the Western Australian landscape through her work. She lived with integrity and a deep respect for humanity and has left a valuable legacy for others through her ceramic workshop and gallery at Bathers Beach in Fremantle, which is well regarded throughout the world as a training base for young potters.

Reference; B Goss, Media Release, http://www.ozco.gov.au/whatsnew/Campbell.htm ibid, ibid

A. Shield Form IV 1996-7 Earthenware, white slip 50.0x 58.0 Fired at 1040 in an electric kiln, Collection, Art Gallery of Western Australia.