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
2023 Decennium, 10th Anniversary Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
2022 Winter Exhibition, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin
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 The Craft & Design Collective’s Annual Exhibition, Belfast