Peter Rushforth AO (1920-2015), ceramic artist, was born in Sydney and studied art at the Royal Melbourne Technical College after World War 2. In 1951 he went to teach at the National Art School in East Sydney, in due course becoming head teacher of ceramics. In 1964 he spent five months in Kyoto, closely observing traditional pottery methods. In 1985 Rushforth was awarded the Order of Australia for his services to pottery, and was honoured with a retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria.