Steph Kates began her art career as a painter, creating otherworldly landscapes exploring mythology, fairytales and fables. When she transitioned from painting to ceramics, she combined her years of experience with image-making, illustration and pattern work to the practice of pottery. Kates creates her surface designs using a process called sgraffito: before the clay fully dries, she paints on layers of underglaze, then hand carves her unique designs. She fires the clay, applies glaze and fires again. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Steph Kates received her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and works from her home studio in Kansas City.