Ceramic Art Inspired by Icelandic Nature

Katrín Gísladóttir was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1962 and began working with clay in 1994, developing her own distinctive artistic style.

She has attended various art courses and seminars at the Reykjavík School of Visual Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in Mexico, Barcelona, Spain, and Bergen, Norway, as well as in Reykjavík, Iceland. She has also exhibited alongside her father, Gísli Sigurðsson, a teacher and artist.

In 2007, she travelled to New Mexico to study the ancient Japanese Raku firing technique, which continues to influence her work.

She creates ceramic sculptures under the name KATRA, using clay, glass, iron and Icelandic horsehair.

Icelandic nature is at the heart of her inspiration. The contrasts of fire and ice, volcanoes, lava, glaciers and rugged landscapes shape the colours, textures and spirit of her pieces.

She also draws inspiration from the strength and mystery of the Icelandic horse.

For KATRA, the Icelandic horse represents freedom, strength, independence and an untamed spirit.

Some sculptures are decorated with wings and crowns: wings to symbolize freedom and the horse’s independent spirit, and crowns to honour its strength, dignity and noble character.

Many pieces also include natural Icelandic horsehair.

Each sculpture is one of a kind, shaped by hand and transformed through the creative process, giving every piece its own unique character.

Through clay and fire, KATRA seeks to capture the untamed spirit of Iceland.

Each work is born of earth, transformed by fire and inspired by the Icelandic landscape.

KATRA — Born of Iceland