Katherine Mathisen

My work is motivated by the human need to communicate and connect. Using the language of visual and tactile vocabulary, this allows me to go beyond the limitations of our given verbal skills. To thrive and grow as humans we continue to seek meaningful connections and relationships to each other, animals, nature and the earth. Art creates connections that touch our souls, transcending time and space. I texture clay surfaces at various stages from soft to dry to create an effect that is simultaneously familiar and mysterious. To create these unique surfaces, each piece may be fired as few as one or as many as five times. Some of these symbols are inspired by nature and ancient cultures, and others are surface designs I create using assorted techniques. My process often results in highly textured surfaces that beg to be touched.