KATHY VENTER

Kathy Venter is recognized for her unique life-size terracotta sculptures created without molds or life casts, using the extended pinch method. Polychrome layers of Hydro-stone are applied after firing, and then sandblasted to produce earthy surfaces resembling cooled lava, revealing the detailed clay body underneath. Capturing the essence of the live model, without sentimentality or idealization, Venter achieves truly contemporary figurative sculptures.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
2015 San Juan Islands Museum of Art, Immersion series
2014  Bellevue Arts Museum. Washington, U.S.A.
2013 "Kathy Venter: LIFE", Gardiner Museum of Contemporary Ceramics, Toronto, ON, Canada
2012 Robin Relph Contemporary, London, England/Zug, Switzerland
2012 Elliott Louis Gallery, Two Person Show, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2009 "Water Border", William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
2008 Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2007 “Kathy Venter: one”, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005-2006 William Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA
2004 Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto, ON, Canada
2003 Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2002 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
2001 Vortex Gallery Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1999 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1998 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1997 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1996 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1995 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1993 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1992 Vortex Galllery, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1990 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1989 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1988 Gallery International, Cape Town, South Africa
1987 Gallery International, Cape Town, South Africa
1986 Gallery International, Cape Town, South Africa
1985 Gallery International, Cape Town, South Africa
1984 Beuster-Skolomowski Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1980 Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Selected Group Exhibitions
2019 Government House, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria House Tour, Victoria, BC, Canada
2019 Winchester Galleries, Victoria, BC. 'Unstoppable: The Woman's Exhibition'
2018 Winchester Galleries, Victoria, BC. With Deon Venter
2015 Circa Museum, Johannesburg, SA. With Deon Venter
2014  Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale
2012 “Heads Up! The Human Head Interpreted by 7 Sculptors”, a new leaf gallery | sculpturesite, Sonoma, CA
2012 Art Toronto, with Miriam Shiell Gallery and Elliott Louis Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2012 Artspring, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
2010 Sacramento State University Museum, Sacramento, CA
2012 San Francisco Art Fair, with Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010 “Clay Throwdown Biennale”, Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle, WA
2010 Chmar Gallery inaugural exhibition, Santa Fe, NM
2009 Los Angeles Art Fair, with Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009 “Body Works”, A New Leaf Gallery, Sonoma, CA
2008 Hastings House sculpture garden inaugural, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada
2007 "Body Language 2", Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2007 “Kathy Venter and Mike Moran”, A New Leaf Gallery, Sonoma, CA
2006 "Firings: Ceramic Sculpture”, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2006 "Body Language: Figurative Works by Five Women Sculptors”, Sculpturesite Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005-2006 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2004 Toronto International Art Fair, with Miriam Shiell Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2003 Toronto International Art Fair, with Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2002 Toronto International Art Fair, with Vortex Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
2001 SOFA International Art Fair, with Miller Gallery, New York, NY
2001 International Invitational Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
2001 Invitational Auction Exhibition, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2000 SOFA International Art Fair, Miller Gallery, New York, NY
2000 Invitational Auction Exhibition, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1997 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1996 “H x W x D”, Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1995 Los Angeles International Art Fair, with Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1995 Seattle International Art Fair, Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1993 “Straight Art III: the Canadian Waters”, Port Angeles Fine Arts Museum, Port Angeles, WA
1991 Vortex Gallery, Dual Show, Saltspring Island, BC, Canada
1988 National Red Cross Exhibition for "Operation Hunger", Invitational traveling show, Sotheby's South Africa
1988 Ecca Group Show, 1820 Settlers' Monument, Grahamstown Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa
1987 "Five Artists from the Ciskei", Ann Bryant Gallery, East London, South Africa
1984 – 1987 1820 Settlers Monument, Grahamstown Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa
City Hall, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
G.A.P. Group, Annual Exhibitions
1978 – 1986 Annual Exhibition, Association of Ceramists of South Africa
1981 Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Selected Collections
Gardiner Museum of Contemporary Ceramics, Toronto, ON, Canada
South African National Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
Ceramics Museum Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA
Permanent Collection, Port Elizabeth Technikon, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Richard B. Sachs collection, New York, NY
Private collections: Australia, Bahamas, Canada, England, Holland, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, U.S.A., and New Zealand

Selected Publications and Reviews
2013  Boulevard Magazine
2013  Galleries West – review
2013  Zone One Arts – interview
2012  CBC radio interview
2011 The Driftwood – Review
2010 Contemporary Ceramics, Emmanuel Cooper.
2010 Art Allsorts II, John Grande.
2010 Ceramic Art and Perception – Review for Bellevue Arts Museum
2009 Art Allsorts, John Grande.
2008 Ceramic Sculpture. Turner.
2008 Ceramics Monthly Magazine – One
2006 Ceramics Monthly Magazine – Cover Image, "Immersion" series. December 2006.
2005 The Globe and Mail Art Review. Gary Michael Dault.
2000 "The Human Form in Clay." Jane Waller, United Kingdom.
2000 Ceramics Monthly. May, 2000.
2000 Ceramics Review – Article. September, 2000.
1997 "Famous Five Foundation" selected maquette for monument
1996 Knowledge Network documentary "Many Faces of Brock"
1995 Focus on Women – Magazine Article
1995 Times Colonist – Review
1990 Vancouver Sun – Review
1988 "Collage" – Television Coverage, ECCA show
1988 Radio South Africa interview "Women Today"
1985 "Sgraffiti" – Article, magazine of National Association of Potters of South Africa.
1984 Pretoria News – Review
1983 Eastern Province Herald
1983 Sunday Times – Review
1982 Cape Herald – Review

Education
1980 Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design, South Africa, MFA – Sculpture
1978 Honors Diploma Fine Art – Sculpture
1976 Diploma in Fine Art – Sculpture

"I build my sculptures from the ground up in a simple extended pinch method — in the manner of building a vessel — which I adapted to suit the specific challenges of creating figurative life-size works. Unlike George Segal, Duane hanson, or Manuel Neri, I don’t make use of any life casts, moulds into or over, or modelling over an armature. As I work exclusively in clay, which has to be fired, I build my figures up to 15 per cent larger than the model so they can shrink to life size after drying and firing.

I have a respect for the basic fundamentals of craft existing in the sculpture of all societies. The argument of art versus craft has traditionally had very little relevance in most societies and I believe that this argument has run its course in the contemporary debate. We have to remember that the word “art” comes from the Greek “ars,” which means craft. So during a period of high art, the best craftsmen were valued.

In the Immersion Series I have developed the combination of traditional material with complete freedom of composition, altered viewing points, diminished force of gravity and an alternate elemental influence - that of water.

The sculptures are made from studies of my models underwater. Water refers to another dimension, an altered state of consciousness - the spiritual. Figures in water react differently to sound, light, gravity and movement. The human experience under water is cocoon-like - as if transformed back to the womb and in a private world of its own. The sharpened intent is on the diminished effect of gravity on the figure, the free movement of the limbs and the evidence of the pressure of the surrounding water on clothing, hair and face.

Suspended by cables in space, the sculptures are experienced by the viewer from all angles - including underneath - freeing the work from its traditional pedestal, form, mass and weight." - Kathy Venter