Kata Bartis

KAS

Ceramicist

Grounded fun with animal and plant forms

Kata makes ceramic vases, bowls and design objects
Naive plant and animal forms characterise her work
Her simplified aesthetic is inspired by her past career in architecture

With fond memories of various art teachers at school, Kata Bartis decided to follow a career in architecture, and graduated in 2013. All the while, she took afternoon courses in pottery and jewellery-making before finally leaving her stable career behind to pursue her passion for pottery full time in 2016. In this initial phase of working as a ceramicist, Kata had to travel from her small village north of Budapest to the Hungarian capital to fire her ceramics in a kiln. In 2017, she invested in her own kiln and has been working independently and selling her works largely online ever since. She does not use a wheel, preferring to hand build pottery with a naive, homespun look with endearing flourishes. In addition to animal traits, such as wings and dinosaur spikes, Kata's pieces also feature textured plant motifs.

Interview

How did you switch from architecture to pottery?: I was encouraged by my parents to study a subject that would lead to stable employment, but I also found architecture useful from an aesthetic standpoint. When the time came, I took what I learned from designing buildings into my work with ceramics as much as possible.
In what way does architecture influence your style?: Architecture is founded on concepts with strict rules and structures, and buildings are generally simple and functional in their design. I try to transfer these principles to my ceramics while also playing with forms and motifs from the natural world.
How did you develop your studio production?: I started out making larger batches, but soon found it was more fun to craft and sell unique objects. Now, every item I make is a one-of-a-kind, but I try to maintain a recognisable style founded on Hungarian folk art, while also including some looser, more playful elements.
What kinds of objects do you prefer to make?: Perhaps due to my past as an architect, I am drawn to functional objects, particularly vases and bowls. I like to make them more abstract and fun without sacrificing their aesthetic appeal. Thankfully, this approach has proved very popular.

Kata Bartis is a rising star: she began her career in 2016