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My Ceramics

In the studio I like to do	Handbuilding, Sculpting, Everything to do with Ceramics
Pottery Wheel	Very old and simple
Clay body	Stoneware, Porcelain
Clay Brand	Cerama 112, and all kinds of others I feel like.
Kiln Type	Electric Kiln, Gas Kiln, Raku Kiln, Pit firing
Kiln Atmosphere	Reduction Atmosphere, Oxidation Atmosphere
Temperature	1245°C – 1280°C
Glaze	In my studio I only have an ordinary kitchen sink so I can not drain all the waste material from making ceramic. So I wash every tool, sponge, canister, and other dirty things in a special container. Gradually a slurry forms in the waste container and when I have one to three gallons I make a “glaze test”. Sometimes it is a usable glaze and then I have one to three gallons of it. There are no recipes for these glazes so they can not be replicated.
You can buy my work from	Kaolin Keramik Galleri

About Me

Introduction	My name is Katrin Valgerdur Karlsdottir and Kvalka ceramic studio is my workplace. “Kvalka” is my artistic name, made from the first few letters of each of my names. My studio is located in my home in Kopavogur, Iceland. I’m the only one working there, doing all the work myself and enjoying it.
What I Love about Ceramics	I like it when “things” happen while I’m creating. Then a new idea can be born. I use live fire to burn most of my work. It is a constant battle for survival or destruction. But when there is a victory the result can be an astonishing beautiful tribute to life with all its colors.
How I started with ceramics	I graduated from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2001 and was by then already turning forty. I took my time to get to the place where I belong, experienced a lot on the way, and have more to explore.
What inspires me	My pieces of art are one of a kind. Formed in my hands with great care and joy as a counterbalance to all the mass production in the world.
What I'm working on at the moment	Pit-fired ceramic Viking Mugs and cups Peculiarity cups
My Artist Statement	Fire is one of the elements responsible for our evolutionary jump to civilization but it can also be the destroyer. I use fire to give life to my work. It is a constant battle for survival or destruction. When there is a victory the result can be an astonishing beautiful tribute to life with all its colors.
My CV	CV KATRIN V. KARLSDÓTTIR (KVALKA) STUDIO: Furuhjalli 2, 200 Kopavogur, ICELAND TEL:00354-5546046/ 00354-6987012 CONTACT: kvalka@gmail.com https://sim.is/en1 The Icelandic Association of Ceramic Artist Kvalka, ceramic studio, Kaolin Keramik Galleri _______________________________________________________________________ EDUCATION: Innovation Center Iceland, Reykjavik, establishment and management of small businesses. 2003. The Open Art Academy, Reykjavik, cast glass III, 2002 Iceland academy of the Arts, Reykjavik, ceramic, 1999-2001. Iceland academy of the Arts, Reykjavik, Photo shop II and III, 1999. School of Arts and Crafts, Reykjavik,ceramic, 1996-1999. Bridget Wood Summer school, Iceland, water painting, 1997, 1998. Art school Kópavogur, Iceland, anatomy drawing, 1995-1996, water painting, 1996-1997. Asker Husflidslag, Norway, Telemark traditional painting, 1993. Asker Kunstskole, Norway, oil painting 1992-1993. Oslo Friundervisning, Norway, ceramic, throwing, 1992. University of Iceland, Teacher Education, Reykjavik, woodwork 1983-1988 and art 1991-1992. Hannes Flosason Woodcarving school, Reykjavik, 1974-1978, 1980. _______________________________________________________________________ WORKSHOPS: Participant in experimental labs about Icelandic Clay, Nýp á Skarðströnd, Dalasýslu, Iceland, 2007. Assistant for Dale Chihuly team, Iceland, 2001. International ceramic studio, Kesckemét, Hungary, 2000 Masterklass with Anders Fredholm, rakutechnic and other primitive firing, Ölfus, 2017 The animal sculpture in ceramic með Andreas Hinder, La Meridiana international school of ceramic in Tuscan, Italy, 2018 Masterclass with Bjarnheiði Jóhannssdóttur, Experiment with Icelandic minerals , Dalabyggð , Iceland, 2018 ________________________________________________________________________ SOLO EXHIBITION: 2000 Emil of Lönneberga, Kopavogur Library. “Svartur á leik”, Agricultural Bank of Iceland, Reykjavik, 1990 Jewellery, Kopavogur Library. 1996 Greeting Card and Ceramic, Kopavogur Library GROUP EXHIBITION: 2009 “Aska í öskju”, Ceramic exhibition of Urns, Listasalur Mosfellsbæjar. 2016 “5 plús 4”Ceramic exhibition, Kaolin Keramik Galleri, Reykjavík. 2016 “Keramík”, 35 anniversary, The Icelandic Association of Ceramic Artist, Listasafn Árnesinga, Hveragerði. 2017 “Frá mótun til muna”, LA Art gallery, Hveragerði. 2018 “Hið eilífa smáblóm”, Kaolin Keramik Galleri, Reykjavík. 2019 “Mjúkt og Hart” ceramic exhibition, Listhús Ófeigs, Reykjavík. 2019 “Frá mótun til muna”, Travel exhibition: Lindaskóli Kópavogi. Auðarskóli Búðardal.Nýheimar, Höfn í Hornafirði. Safnahúsið, Húsavík. 2020 “Frá mótun til muna”, Travel exhibition: Norska húsið, Stykkishólmi. Gallerý Grásteinn, Reykjavík. 2020 Raku demonstration at Norska húsið, Stykkishólmi. ______________________________________________________________________ COLLECTION: Kopavogur Library. Town Hall , Búðardal, Iceland.