Katalina Caliendo

Ceramicist

©Katalina Caliendo

Tactile textures

Katalina is a Royal College of Art MA graduate
Her works explore clay hand-building
She has mastered a technique called imbrication

Born in the pacific northwest of the United States, Katalina Caliendo has always been drawn to the making. Both her grandfathers were craftsmen, which sparked a childhood interest. In 2016 Katalina moved to the UK to follow a formal education at the University of Hertfordshire. Her objects are spellbinding sculptural pieces which represent a form of artistic and existential dialogue. The talented ceramicist uses a unique process called imbrication that involves photographing aspects of textures, forms, and painting with clay and traditional paint mediums. “I work towards facilitating vital explorations of our relationship to the material and natural world,” says Katalina.

Interview

©Robert Chadwick

©Katalina Caliendo

What are your sources of inspiration?: I draw inspiration from the landscapes and environments I witness. I observe how things in our natural world weave together, bend together, push against each other, and grow towards each other.
What is less known about your work?: It would probably be the amount of time it takes to make a piece using the imbrication technique. The process of making from clay sitting on my desk to the finished form in the exhibition space takes about 250 hours.
When is a special moment from your professional life?: Receiving the QEST research funding and walking along the Cornish Coast photographing the life growing between “curly-wavy” slate. Exhibiting for the first time at Collect.
What is your advice to young ceramicists?: I would suggest young ceramicists to embrace the unknown path ahead. They must explore as much as they can when they are young.

Katalina Caliendo is a rising star: she began her career in 2019 and she started teaching in 2021