Katherine Grandey I OHIO

My recent work consists of functional forms that explore a variety of surface treatments from carving into clay for a more clean, graphic look to drawing and painting on the surface for a slightly dirtier, edgier feel. I am influenced by cartoons, comics, popular culture, and design in my representation and stylization. My concepts stem from a desire to create functional items that disrupt the users expected experience. At first glance these objects seem whimsical, but an underlying psychological tension emerges. This tension is created by characters wearing masks to hide their identify, being engaged in chases or battles, or by the use of heads and figures floating on a colored ground conveying a sadness. Some of the characters are questioning gender roles and social constructs. A common theme in all the work is an attention to formal considerations: color, shape, form, front and back. I am very interested in sets and series, and how a piece can stand alone, but also contribute to a group both graphically and through the use of narrative.