Katherine Hackl established her ceramic studio in 1994, producing traditionally handcrafted pottery and tile. Her specialty is custom handmade decorative tile work for both public and private commissions. Her techniques and designs draw on the Arts and Crafts traditions of tile making. Katherine Hackl's distinctive pottery is a collection of individually hand–thrown functional stoneware and porcelain decorated forms. Each piece is a unique combination of elegant forms layered with botanical images, patterns, and illustrations.

”I think of my work as a balancing act. Combinations of clean, spare forms and active, graphic surfaces. Light and dark. Figurative and abstract. Texture and Surface. I want to engage the narrative potential of seemingly simple natural forms to reflect the fluid, dynamic experiences of life. My aim to use the energy of these images and forms to connect the work with those who use it – whether as a large community mural or a delicate cup of tea. There are stories and experiences evoked by these pieces to be shared and built upon over time. My goal is to create work that invites the user to reflect on these possibilities while enjoying the piece through the simple pleasures of daily active use.”  - Katherine Hackl

On her process:

Katherine makes each piece individually on the potter's wheel using porcelain clay. When the piece is fully dry, she coats it with a thin layer of colored underglaze-black, blue or grey, or a blend of several colors. She then paints the imagery over this underrglaze with woodworker's shellac. When the shellac is fully dry, she uses a wet sponge to slowly dissolve the background away, leaving only the raised surface o the painted designs. The piece is then bisque fired at a low temperature and the shellac burns away. After this bisque firing, she will sometimes add additional layers of color, such as a shiny white or bright yellow. She also adds glaze to the interior and fires it a second time to a high temperature that vitrifies the porcelain, making it usable in the dishwasher and microwave.