Kathy Erteman: Selected works, 2011-2025
Vessel as Canvas, Bucket & Long Vessels, 2011-2019
The vessel is my canvas—an ongoing conversation between surface and form. The transformation of clay through the making process is compelling, from malleable to hard, rough to smooth. Control and lack of control, along with the necessary pauses for drying, allow time for thinking and decision-making.
There are two distinct episodes of making for me: the studied, restrained form, and the less planned, layered surfaces, driven by response to the form through choices of color and texture related to painting and printmaking on paper and canvas. The often unpredictable results can produce emotions ranging from exhilaration to sorrow. Reductive, spare form made with practiced restraint combined with spontaneous surface texture and color completes the work and has kept me engaged with clay for half a century.
Minimalism in form coupled with nuanced abstract glaze surfaces becomes a dance between control and chance, allowing for surprise, wonder, and failure. Observation of nature, emotion, and a mechanized industry all contribute to my visual language. As my surface ideas began to interfere with my minimal vessel forms, I moved them to works on mulberry paper. Gouache and casein paint became stand-ins for glaze, offering a more direct way to realize color.
After several years of making monotypes on mulberry paper and setting vessels aside, I returned to clay. The forms became more spare, and the textured surfaces now work in concert with them, resulting in a more cohesive vessel.
Cinture Vessels, 2020-2023
Cinture is a series of handbuilt sculptural vessels with wheel thrown rim started in 2018 as world politics were spiraling out of control and the daily news showcased contention and random violence daily. I yearned for emotional comfort and a desire to turn inward. In times like these, work in the studio is a great solace.
A range of emotion and history of those times is embedded in this series. Unplanned and unexpected,reference to the human figure with slip and glaze stretched over the form like skin over bones presented itself on the minimal forms.
The soft rolled edge of an otherwise bold erect form hints at a self -protective curl inward and Cinture from the latin cintura refers to the contrasting tight black waist sash wrapping around like arms in comforting embrace, a belt or a corset, offering support to the body.
Expansion and Distortion, 2023-2024
The clay vessel, and the dialogue between form and surface, are the ongoing conversation I have had with my work for four decades. The vessel forms are spare and formal, serving as a canvas for energetic color, complex texture, and emotional expression.
I use various unconventional ceramic techniques to complete my work, more like painting on a canvas than glazing. As each body of work flows into the next, it is always a response to what came just before.
The work from 2020–2024 suggests emotions present during the pandemic times: containment, isolation, and withdrawing inward—expressed with restrained ribbed vessels, with color and texture glaze stretched over and interrupting the even ribbed form, alluding to the human figure.
Texture made by my glazes is bold, rough, and often unpredictable, which I embrace. Concurrently, I formulate saturated, gouache-like color glazes and remain faithful to using fired ceramic surfaces. I aim for surfaces that hug the vessel form and describe its shape, while offering unpredictable and irregular textures, drips, and bubbles.
Bumpy Times, 2025
Midway into 2025, I find myself altering the restricted singular forms themselves. Starting with my usual measured care, I continue to form with enthusiastic reckless abandon and no plan—pushing, stretching, and altering the soft clay in unexpected ways. I admit it is a nod to these unpredictable times.
Bumpy Times highlights the form with one saturated color and my familiar dry texture glaze, with bold non-primary color resembling gouache paint. The new color palette accompanies a family of forms. I do not start with a plan or map out the surface while altering a fresh piece, as I almost always have done with previous work.
It is both freeing and unfamiliar. I am following the clay with emotion driven by the erratic uncertainty surrounding our time.
Captions
- Kathy Erteman, Ochre Monoprint Vessel, 10.5 x 15 x 12.5, stoneware with slip and glaze. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Grey Stripe Bucket Vessel, 11 x 12 x 11, stoneware with slip and glaze. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Asphalt and Snow Long Vessel, 8.5 x 26 x 7, wheel thrown & altered. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Grey-Black Long Vessel, 8 x 24 x 4, wheel thrown & altered. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Black and White Graphic Bucket Vessel, 15 x 13 x 10, stoneware with slip and glaze. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Boxite Long Vessel, stoneware with slip and glaze. Photo by Alan Wiener
Kathy Erteman, Ochre Tall Bucket Vessel, 11.5 x 11 x 10, Stoneware. Photo by Alan Wiener - Kathy Erteman, Bark, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 10.5″ H x 23.5″ W x 10 1/4″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Black Frost, Oval Texture Vessel, 2018. Glazed stoneware, hand-built. 18.25” H x 24″ W x 10″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows
Kathy Erteman, Bodice, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 19″ H x 15″ W x 7.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Dappled Cream Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 16″ H x 14.25″ W x 10.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Dappled Rust, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 11 1/4″ H x 22.5″ W x 9″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Divide, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 12.5″ H x 23.5″ W x 11.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Foam Cinture Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 16.5″ H x 13 1/4″ W x 7 1/4″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Lava Cinture Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 17″ H x 16″ W x 8″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Monoprint Vessel, 2019. Glazed stoneware, hand-built. 14.5” H x 24″ W x 10″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows
Kathy Erteman, Ochre Print Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 8” H x 9″ W x 9″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows
Kathy Erteman, Reveal Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 18.5″ H x 25″ W x 6.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone
Kathy Erteman, Titanium Portal, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 13″ H x 15.5″ W x 9.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone - Kathy Erteman, Black + White Tab Vessel, 2024. Glazed stoneware. 6.25″ H x 13″ W x 9″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm.
Kathy Erteman, Blue Figure Eight Tab Vessel, 2024. Glazed stoneware. 5” H x 16″ W x 8.25″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm.
Kathy Erteman, Mulberry + Black Long Vessel, 2024. Glazed stoneware. 5.75″ H x 21.5″ W x 4.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm.
Kathy Erteman, Ochre Tab Vessel, 2024. Glazed stoneware. 7.25″ H x 21.25″ W x 5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm.
Kathy Erteman, Red Tab Vessel, 2022. Glazed stoneware. 7.5” H x 9″ W x 8.5″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Jesse Stone.
Kathy Erteman, Tan Tab Vessel, 2024. Glazed stoneware. 7.5” H x 21.25″ W x 6.75″ D. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm. - Kathy Erteman, Collection of Bumpy Times Vessels, 2025. Dimensions vary. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm
Kathy Erteman, Collection of Cauldron Vessels, 2025. Dimensions vary. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm
Kathy Erteman, Black Bumpy Times Vessel, 2025. Glazed stoneware, hand-built. 6.75″ H x 7.25″ Dia. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm
Kathy Erteman, Golden Brown Bumpy Times Vessel, 2025. Glazed stoneware, hand-built. 5.5” H x 7.25″ Dia. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm
Kathy Erteman, Hazelnut Bumpy Times Vessel, 2025. Glazed stoneware, hand-built. 7” H x 7″ Dia. Courtesy of the artist and Hostler Burrows. Photo by Joe Kramm
