Katherine Smyth (New Zealand) ceramics

Katherine Smyth is a New Zealand studio potter based in Wellington. She is known for her hand-built vessels that bring a contemporary element to old world ceramic forms and traditions. Her work is strongly influenced by her fascination with the Middle East, where she has spent time living and working.

She was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. She initially trained as a chef at Otago Polytechnic, graduating in 1986. She worked at Wellington restaurant Il Casino, then The Sugar Club alongside chef Peter Gordon. Between 1989 and 1991, she studied towards a Diploma of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Sydney's National Art School in Australia.

In 1993, Smyth worked in Taibeh, near Petra in Jordan, alongside English potter Jim Mason, teaching local women potting skills. This experience left a lasting impression on Smyth, and she began making tall vases and jugs inspired by Bronze Age serving and storage more... vessels. She has made repeated trips to the Middle East over the years, and her work continues to be influenced by the region's culture and history. She is also interested in the relationship between food and ceramics, and her work often incorporates elements of both.

Smyth's work is held in public and private collections throughout New Zealand and internationally, including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and the Wallace Arts Trust. She has received numerous awards and grants for her work, including a Creative New Zealand Professional Development Grant in 2003 and a New Work Grant in 2004. In 2012, she was awarded another Creative New Zealand grant to begin producing a series of work called Zoomorphic, based on animal forms. less...