Kate Malone, Ceramic artist

Q5 QUESTIONS Kate Malone

BIOGRAPHY

Kate Malone MBE (b. London 1959), is one of the UK’s leading ceramic artists with an illustrious career spanning thirty years. She has developed an unmistakable style, particularly focussing on her pioneering glazing techniques. This has led to collaborations with prominent architects and designers. She is truly passionate about the ceramic arts, dedicating much of her time to sharing her skills and expertise. She is the charity founder and ambassador of the Firedup4 auctions, raising money to enable young people to enjoy the benefits of pottery, by providing pottery studios, equipment and training to OnSide Youth Zones. Kate is also is a regular contributor at specialist art events, and was a judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down. Her work is represented by leading ceramics gallery Adrian Sassoon in London.

@kate_malone_ceramics katemaloneceramics.com

adriansassoon.com firedup4.com

1. What do you most admire about Chinese ceramics?

What first comes to mind is the charm and the appropriate weight of the object. If you pick a piece up as a maker, it feels perfect. Each object made with care and sensitivity, feel so right. They have the right weight in my hand, and a unique charm - so simple, yet sophisticated. When handling the porcelain, I often feel a great connection with the maker, more so than with objects from other cultures.

2. Where do you find inspiration for your work ?

For me inspiration can be found everywhere and in everything – I pick from the pantry of the world! It can be something I see in a magazine, on television or at an art fair. Both historical or new objects. I don’t make a particular mental note to use a source - I just store it in my subconscious. The main source however is nature - perhaps whilst in the garden and seeing a fruit, or even someone else’s version of a fruit.

KATE MALONE’S STUDIO IN KENT

3. In what way does art enriches your own interior?

Art is everywhere in my interior – they are all about people and memories! Just on one set of shelves are pieces by Andrew Wicks, a covid piece by an intern, simple Indian altar sculpture. I like to swap and exchange with other makers – so each piece has that memory of people attached to it. Therefore it reminds me of the person involved as well as enjoying the beauty of the object.

4. What’s the last artistic or cultural event that really impressed you?

The annual Loewe Craft Prize, which was in Seoul this summer – for which I was also nominated. The prize’s remit is to encourage traditional craft, with the addition of new invention. There were 30 finalists chosen from an incredible 3000 applications from 116 countries. Each entry is all about craft reinterpreted and re-thought. The extraordinary tradition of crafts, which I appreciate in older things, but brought into the present and future. The scope of material on offer was amazing, the winning piece was a basket woven from horse hair.

5. If money, space or time were no object, which piece of art or antique would you like to have in your own home?

Very hard to choose one thing – so I chose two! The large plaster figure of a seated Buddha in the Vanderven collection – it has such a spiritual quality, when I first saw it, I felt it was breathing at me. The other is a beautiful Chola bronze from Southern India – which have a quality to them, which I would aspire to for the rest of my life. Though I am not particularly religious, I seem to be drawn to the spirituality of temple figures.

PINEAPPLES SOLD FOR CHARITY

PLASTER FIGURE OF BUDDHA MING DYNASTY