Karen Wilde artist in flower dress holding large ceramic clay volcano contemporary art
Hands holding burnished clay ceramic birds by artist Karen Wilde

The introduction of a home-built Raku kiln in 2022 has allowed Karen Wilde to continue her experimental surface treatments. Developing mediums and objects through play while observing the many textures in nature, Wilde’s interest in organic chemistry in art and material sustainability produce unique and unpredictable surface results within her artwork.

Karen Wilde’s Trypo universe emerged from the ontological study of holes and their symbiotic negative and positive relationship with space. The artworks distort the figurative form and pictorial language of holes into non-objective sculptures, with underlying themes around cells, macro-organisms, fossils and organic forms, enhanced with experimental glaze and firing processes.

Trypo VIII Stoneware fired red clay Sculpture by Karen Wilde
Karen Wilde, 2021, “Trypo VIII”, Stoneware fired red clay and glaze, 28x20x7cm.

Puia Raku series are bubbling or dripping volcanic sculptures pulled red-hot from the raku kiln and transferred to a firey reduction chamber with combustibles. This produces unpredictable surface colours and glaze patterns while leaving smokey scorched marks on the raw clay areas.
Experimental processes of including both inorganic and natural organic materials to the clay body, glazes and firing process result in every piece displaying unique surface textures.

  • Glistening volcano sculpture art smoking burner by Karen Wilde, raku fired clay
  • Puia Pupuhi / Bubbling Volcano, Raku Earthenware fired NZ red clay with glaze reduction
  • Set of raku fired abstract ceramic sculptures by Karen Wilde, smoking on block of wood.
  • Raku fired pottery, textures in clay