Andrea Vargas: Ceramic Jewellery Workshop at Romulus Folio
Artist Andrea Vargas, a multidisciplinary Melbourne-based practitioner, recently led a ceramic jewellery workshop at Romulus Folio Gallery. The session demonstrated Andrea’s thoughtful guidance, the inclusive environment of the workshop, and how participants were able to engage with both technical skill and creative exploration.
Andrea’s practice spans sculpture, ceramics, photography, and watercolor, and she frequently examines themes of materiality, memory, and relational experience. At Romulus Folio, her work has been featured in OBSERVER exhibition(2025) and is included in our upcoming Transitions Exhibition, where her attention to texture, form, and the transformative qualities of everyday materials is foregrounded. Her workshops extend this practice into participatory spaces, allowing audiences to engage directly with her methods and conceptual concerns.
Building on the success of the last session, Andrea will be leading another ceramic jewellery workshop on Sunday, 18 January 2026, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Participants will paint and glaze pre-formed ceramic charms, which they can assemble into necklaces or earrings. All materials, tools, and glaze finishes are provided, and the finished pieces are completed with epoxy UV resin for durability. The workshop is designed to be inclusive, welcoming beginners as well as those with experience, and participants leave with finished wearable art and a deeper connection to material practice.
From Clay to Meaning: Embodied Practice and Memory
Andrea’s workshops are an extension of her broader artistic practice, which emphasises material engagement, process, and relational experience. Painting the ceramic charms allows participants to explore colour, texture, and surface while embedding personal expression and intention into each piece. Each charm carries traces of the participant’s choices, time, and engagement, turning making into a deeply personal and meaningful experience. The workshops demonstrate how her practice exists both in the gallery space and in participatory contexts, bridging contemporary art and craft.
Upcoming Workshop: Sunday, 18 January 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Romulus Folio Gallery, The Gladstone, 55 Gladstone Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Cost: A$75 per participant, including all materials, tools, glaze, chain, packaging, and refreshments
Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible, low-sensory and inclusive environment, seating provided
Experience Level: Open to all, no prior experience required