Biography
Irish ceramicist Cathy Burke explores the fragile charm found in nature’s process of regeneration. Cathy first studied Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens, then went on to complete her BA(Hons) in Craft Design Ceramics from NCAD, Dublin. Burke always had a fascination with clay, soil, the earth; an elemental fixation. This primary substance has permeated through her existence, first in her horticultural work, and later through the medium of ceramics. She explores cycles of decay and regeneration which are found in the natural world. Her slab-built forms are somewhere between living creatures and monuments to the landscape. The finished pieces are an expression of the tragedy and splendour of nature, where life and death are interwoven. There is always balance and connection. Connection is fundamental to her creative process, shaping and forming clay by hand, she feels the work is ‘from me, not just by me’.
Selected Exhibitions
2021 – Made in Ireland National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.
2021 – Portfolio- Critical Selection, Donaraile House Cork (August 2021), Art des Arcades Geneva (2021 Date TBC) NDCG, Kilkenny. (2022)
2021 – Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.
2021 – International Kogei Awards Toyama, Takaoka, Japan.
2021 – International Kogei Awards Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
2020 – Distant Ceramics. Online Juried Exhibition
2020 – Unfolding, Lexicon Gallery, Dublin.
2020 – Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.
2020 – Land/Marks, Ceramics Ireland Juried Triennial, Farmleigh, Dublin and Faenza Italy
2020 – Handmade in Europe, Handwerksform, Hannover, Germany.
2019 – Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.
2019 – Sculpture in Context 2019,NBG Glasnevin, Dublin.
2019 – Quirky Vibrant and Not So Familiar Stories, Valcke Art Gallery, Ghent, Belgium.
2019 – intuitive forms- slip.flux.flock. Olivier Cornet Gallery Dublin
2018 – Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.
2018 – Sculpture in Context 2018,NBG Glasnevin, Dublin.
2018 – Irish Ceramics Awards 2008 – 2018 Exhibition, Mill Cove Gallery, Kerry.
2017 – Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.
2017 – Irish Ceramics Awards Exhibition, Mill Cove Gallery, Kenmare, Kerry.
2017 – RDS Craft Awards, RDS Dublin 4.
2017 – House, Blue Egg Gallery, Wexford.
2017 – Touchstone, Ceramics Ireland Triennial. Farmleigh Gallery, Dublin and National
Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.
2017 – Artist in Craft, Cill Rialaig Arts Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co.Kerry
2016 – RDS Craft Awards, RDS Dublin 4 and Museum of Country Life, Co.Mayo. 2016 – In My Nature, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin.
2016 – Young II, SO Fine Art Editions, Sth. Anne Street, Dublin.
2016 – Heritage and Diversity, East/West Invitational Ceramic Exhibition, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea.
2016 – Irish Ceramics, Barony Centre, West Kilbride, Scotland.
2015 – slip.flux.flock, British Ceramics Biennial, Old Spode Factory, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. 2015 – MADE
2015 – The Craft & Design Collective’s Annual Exhibition, Belfast.