Max Brown’s Altered Swans: A Bold New Chapter for Crownlynn.kiwi 

Crownlynn.kiwi is proud to unveil "The Altered Swan Series 1"— a collaborative series of art-piece sculptures between abstract artist Max Brown and Crownlynn.kiwi. As a striking new interpretation of an iconic New Zealand ceramic form, this limited-edition series reimagines the beloved Crown Lynn swan through the experimental artistry of Max Brown, pushing boundaries while honouring the brand’s rich heritage. 

“For seven days I spent my time in Eketāhuna, a small town three hours’ drive north of  Wellington. The purpose being day in, day out, to create a series of works that challenged both myself as an artist, and the preconceived notion of what Crown Lynn was - now moving forward into what Crown Lynn is. There was not a moment to spare nor a kiln left off during the process, what an exciting time.” says Max Brown of his time working on the collection. 

Brown, known for his abstract approach to form and texture, collaborated with Mathew Nisbet of Crownlynn.kiwi to experiment with glazes and techniques that would bring new life to the classic swan shape. “It was so much fun,” says Nisbet. “Getting back to doing things originally.” 

The result is a striking collection of 71 swans, including 15 sets of three, 10 standalone pieces, and 16 experimental “ugly ducklings.” Each swan reflects Max Brown’s painterly themes, showcasing new glazes and techniques that honour Crown Lynn’s legacy while offering a fresh, contemporary perspective. 

This collection is just the beginning. The Altered Swans series will continue as part of an ongoing studio project, inviting different artists to reinterpret this cherished form. “So many people have stories of the swan and the other parts of the Crown Lynn collection being part of their life,” says Nisbet. “It’s exciting to put a new twist on something so loved.” 

Max Brown’s Altered Swans are now available for purchase in-store at 35 Main Street,  Eketāhuna, or online at crownlynn.kiwi.

Sets 1-15 of the Altered Swan Series 1

Sets 1-15 of the Altered Swan Series 1

Follow the link here to the crownlynn.kiwi website to purchase these limited edition sets

The Swan is a New Zealand Icon. Like a silver fern on a black jersey, the Swan sits on a kiwi living room shelf. For forty years Crown Lynn made the large and small in New Lynn, Auckland. In 1975 Bruce Yallop designed the medium as part of the Model and Moulding department in Crown Lynn.

Standing in our shop in Eketahuna, everyday another person arrives with memories of growing up with these. At Crownlynn.kiwi we are proud to continue making these forms, the third Makers – Crown Lynn 1948-1989, Studio Ceramics 2005-2017, and ourselves since . Our are the Next Generation, having left an imprint in the lives of so many lives, we now introduce The Altered Swan Range.

The Original Swan is an imprint on our youth, part of the landscape, now it becomes the fabric of artistic expression. Crownlynn.kiwi’s Altered Swan is a Postmodern response to the average white swan, allowing three or four artists, each year, the opportunity to reach into their past and enjoy becoming part of this New Zealand journey. Numbered and signed, the Altered Swan Range gives excitement with design that is relevant to the changing moods of our Nation on an unchanging icon.

Max Brown was invited to be the inaugural series due to his family connection to Eketahuna, his knowledge of ceramics gained working alongside his Mother, Sheila Brown, in Christchurch. Max is an artist of natural expression, expanding his thoughts into movements of paint. Brown’s work is largely colourfield, with vast swatches of emotional energy dotted in between visceral textures. 

What we see here in the rework of the Altered Swan series, is the challenging idea of breaking the preconceived notion of an old New Zealand form. Brown’s work is to break the mould, quite literally, and free the swan’s from what it was, into everything it is not. This can be seen in Brown’s wild sgraffito mark-making, and the many different glazes used to create an abstract field of depth. It is very free, chaotic and bold, but also possesses a particular softness credited to the akin of the artist. Max hides a lot behind his gestural movement, perhaps seen as a metaphor for his current state of mind. It is in this space that you get a certain sense of somber beauty, and one that resonates with many, a connection to a natural state of reality made clear by freedom of expression.

Mathew Nisbet, Crownlynn.kiwi Owner, Artist, and expert Ceramicist was along for the seven day ride the whole way through.

“Making this series was always challenging, pushed for time, we wished for months to develop the ideas that rapidly became explosions of colour, changing several times as successive firings layered and shifted glaze effects. Exciting and exhausting as each kiln opening had moments of joy and disbelief, the series evolved with the Ugly Ducklings forming into an offshoot, a series of 16 forms supporting the 55 main pieces of Max’s Swan Song Series. I realised during this time, this is vision in action, that began 30 years ago”   

Crownlynn.kiwi will be looking forward to Max spending time in our studio on his next visit and will be announcing the second series in March.