Karin Putsch-Grassi (born 1 October 1960 in Wuppertal) is a potter born in Germany. She lives and works in Reggello, Tuscany.

Biography

After an apprenticeship in the studio of Albrecht Kiedaisch in Tübingen Putsch-Grassi began her studies in ceramics 1982 at "Istituto statale d’Arte” in Florence with Salvatore and Stefano Cipolla.^[1] She then opened her own studio and experimented with different local types of clay, glaces and burning techniques. After visiting workshops under John Colbeck she pursued her studies at the Goldsmiths College at the University of London.

She received further inspiration from workshops with Takeshi Yasuda, Ruthanne Tudball, Wally Keeler and Daphne Corregan. She received several rewards and gained notoriety especially with her work in the Raku ware technique. Her works are displayed in public exhibitions and can be found in various European museums as well as in private collections.

Putsch-Grassi’s technique is stimulated by experimenting with new techniques and clays. She works on the relationship between shape and surface, using both throwing and also slap building as her creative technique. The shapes of her pieces are simple, and have a well-defined and linear outline. The final appearance is the result of processes similar to those that nature undergoes, i.e. submitted to continuous changes by atmospheric factors. Between 2010 and 2016 she used the technique named by her as “CUT & STRETCH”. It consists of making incisions in the surface of the ceramic work, which is subsequently pulled, lengthened or even widened until it creates uncontrollable clefts and fissures which are produced by the non-uniform thickness and by the consistency of the clay. The surface shows the traces of the work progress, and it is the firing of the piece that establishes this special moment.

Her most recent work follows a newly developed technique named "Figulinae", which consists of assembling soft raw stoneware or porcelain vessels and compressing them to form a new entity. ^[2]

Putsch-Grassi's work has been exhibited in personal exhibitions in Italy, Germany, Poland and Japan^[3] as well as in numerous group exhibtions worldwide. Putsch-Grassi is an elected member of the International Academy of Ceramics.^[4].

Awards (selection)

• 2010 “Lodi fa Ceramica”, Lodi
• 2011 First Prize “I Rakuriosi”, Roma
• 2012 First Prize “Rassegna Internazionale di Ceramica Contemporanea”, Albissola Marittima ^[5]
• 2012 First Prize “I Rakuriosi”, Faenza
• 2016 Second Prize "Ceramic & Colours Award", Faenza
• 2021 Third Prize "Premio MIDeC per Design Ceramico", Cerro di Laveno Mombello ^[6]

Documentation in publications

• Ray Hemachandra, Jim Romberg: 500 Raku. Bold Explorations of a Dynamic Ceramics Technique, New York 2011, ISBN 978-1-60059-294-2
• Linda Kopp: The Best of 500 Ceramics. Celebrating a Decade in Clay, New York 2012, ISBN 978-1-4547-0141-5
• Duncan Hooson, Anthony Quinn: The Workshop Guide to Ceramics: A Fully Illustrated Step-by-Step Manual. Techniques and Principles of Design, Haupauge 2012, ISBN 978-0-7641-6461-3

External links

• Website Karin Putsch-Grassi
• Website of the exhibition „Terre lavorate“

References

Sources

• Linda Kopp. The Best of 500 Ceramics. Celebrating a Decade in Clay, New York 2012, ISBN 978-1-4547-0141-5, page 398
• Website of the International Academy of Ceramics
• Catalog of Putsch-Grassi's Kyoto exhibition in 2017
• Ceramics Monthly, September 2015, (Statement of Putsch-Grassi and pictures of her work), page 42
• La Ceramica Moderna & Antica”, no. 301, 2018 , ISSN 1123-816X, Coverstory, Pages 8-11
• S., Federico. "Karin Putsch-Grassi: dalla Germania all'Italia nel nome della ceramica". Archived from the original on September 3, 2018.
• Ugo La Pietra. "Fittile. Artigianato artistico Italiano della ceramica contemporanea" , page 50
• Duncan Hooson. The Workshop Guide to Ceramics, Thames & Hudson, ISBN 0500516219