Katharine Morling

Katharine Morling


Katharine Morling is an award-winning artist working in the medium of ceramics. She set up her studio in 2003 and has since gained international acclaim for her work.

Artistic Statement

My work can be described as 3 dimensional drawings, in the medium of ceramics. Each piece, on the surface, an inanimate object, has been given layers of emotion and embedded with stories, which are open for interpretation in the viewer’s mind. When put together, the pieces combine to make a tableau staging the still lives of everyday objects. The life size pieces and the unexpectedness of the scale create a slightly surreal experience as you walk through this strange environment. I work very instinctively, one piece leads to the next, I try not to pin down what I am doing or even why. I have to trust and believe that I can communicate through this medium. My searching is never complete; each piece is a journey for answers that are only hinted at, with more questions.

Katharine Morling - Biography

I took a year out between my Art foundation and Degree course. This turned into six years of working my way around the world, through the Czech Republic, Holland, Switzerland, America, Hong Kong, China and India.

Eventually I ended up back in the UK, starting over again with my education at Penwith College in Penzance, studying psychology. I was on my way to my lesson and realised I kept longing to see what they were doing in the ceramics rooms, so I eventually went in a met the wonderful John Cockfield, Head of Art. He took me onto the A-level ceramics programme.

Then to my surprise, I found myself applying to do the ceramics Degree at Falmouth College of Art. Badcocks gallery had bought my A-level ceramics show and they continued to support me by buying my work throughout my degree. This gave me the encouragement to start buying equipment and to set up my own studio, in the shed at the bottom of my garden.

After graduating from Falmouth, I moved to London and set up in my first proper studio at Cockpit Arts, in South London. In my first year I was turned down by all shows and galleries, not the open-armed response I was expecting. Eventually I got my first show and slowly but surely it all came together. I started getting interesting projects, from school to museums, shops, galleries, commissions and shows.

In 2006 I started to feel things were going my way, I was really busy and the commissions were flowing in. But I found myself thinking there was something missing and I wasn’t satisfied with what I was making. I felt my work didn’t seem to represent me.

I felt I needed help, expert advice, so I phoned up Felicity Aylieff at the Royal College of Art and asked if I could come in for a chat....

In 2009 I graduated from the Royal College of Art, Ceramics and Glass Department. I had a completely new body of work and many more new ideas and ways of working behind me. I had a new feeling of confidence and a sense of direction within my work.

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