Maria Louisa "Briar" Gardner (29 July 1879 – 20 October 1968) was a New Zealand potter and speech therapist.
[1] Gardner became increasingly interested in creative arts and began embroidery, tapestry and painting, spending some time in Australia studying these crafts and exhibiting her decorative needlework in Auckland in 1920.
[2] She began taking classes at Elam School of Fine Arts, studying sculpture under William Wright and learning about Māori design from artist and illustrator Trevor Lloyd.
[1][2] She experimented with different glazes and decorating materials, experiencing technical difficulties in her early works.
[2] In the mid-1930s, Gardner “was praised for the marked development in her work, particularly her use of ‘soft harmonious colourings’, ‘flowing glazes’ and Maori and indigenous plant motifs.”[1] By 1950, arthritis forced her to stop pottery, and in 1951 she trained as a speech and drama teacher.