Kate Skelly

bio

Kate Skelly is an artist, curator, and educator based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Her ceramics feature hand-drawn, illustrated surfaces developed through sgraffito, Mishima, and other drawing-based techniques on clay. Her work reflects a sustained curiosity about materials, process, and the natural world. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family and her two dogs, Waffle and Boise.

Artist Statement

My work exists in a dialogue between seemingly opposing impulses: broad, expressive gestures and meticulous detail. When painting ceramics, I aim for a loose, intuitive hand, seeking to infuse each piece with a sense of playfulness and ease. At the same time, I am drawn to intricacy and pattern, finding a meditative rhythm in carving hundreds of fine lines into the surface. Each piece settles somewhere between these approaches, balancing spontaneity with careful attention.

For me, making is an act of appreciation, a way of engaging more deeply with the world around me. When I draw on clay, I try to see with fresh eyes, as if encountering each subject for the first time. Animals are a central theme in my work. I am especially inspired by Medieval Bestiary illustrations, whose animals possess a naive, playful quality that continues to inform my own work.

exhibitions