Katie Ogden-Jenkins

Katie is a ceramicist, working on the Suffolk Coast, where her works form an essential part of the designer maker practice Mabel & Co, which she co-founded and runs with her husband James.

Katie predominately throws her vessels, but often hand builds elements, such as handles or combines thrown sections to make larger, more complex, pieces. Her chosen clay is one rich with texture and grog, and forms a foundational and visible element to the work, which often has large areas of unglazed form, perhaps just lightly washed.

The glazing uses a collection of harmonious tones, ensuring that pots work individually and as a collected group. Dark iron rich tones give a background to shades of lichen and pebble, with the lighter pieces having crackle clear water, pink heather flushes and midnight blue streaks. Whilst the tones are gentle, the application is more energetic and combines practice with a sense of freedom and improvisation, giving them a strong sense of movement and life.

As with all their work, Katie draws inspiration from the landscape of the Suffolk Coast, which surrounds them. From the rough woodland textures of the Sandlings, to the long stretches of smooth pebble covered beaches, as well as heather covered the heathland and reed lined rivers.