Columns

Name: Kathy Boettcher

Residence: Appleton

Medium: Ceramics

You’ve probably seen Kathy Boettcher’s art without realizing it. Working under her professional brand, Kaffers Illustration, Boettcher transforms functional ceramic bowls and mugs into dynamic works of art.

“I’ve always been drawing,” Boettcher says. “I live for pattern and end up using the silk-screened animals in a way of layering and patterning.” The result leads to eye-catching displays that offer a refreshing departure from traditional ceramic style while still retaining a broad appeal.

Although Boettcher frequently works on commissions and conventional figures, her continued experimentation can surprise people who might not expect to see owls with antlers on ceramic kitchenware. “I try to let people in with my art and give them small snippets of how I see things around me,” she says. “I think that’s part of the beauty of art. Everyone brings their own thoughts and experiences to what they view. I love the interaction.”

Since winning UW-Stevens Point’s Senior Juried Exhibition in 2013, Boettcher’s portfolio and level of involvement in the Appleton community have continued to grow. “I’ve been getting more involved with Bazaar After Dark and this was my first year at Art at the Park,” Boettcher says. “I’ve also enjoyed getting involved with Art on the Town and The Fire’s Chalk on the Town.”

Boettcher’s continued involvement in the community represents the explosion of art events that has occurred in the Fox Cities in recent years. Her functional art is dazzling and encourages viewers to keep reimagining daily life, one antlered owl at a time.

Boettcher is the artist-in-residence at Riverwalk Art Center in Fond du Lac for the month of September. Her work is also on display in Kaukauna’s Galatea Art Gallery. You can find Boettcher’s work at Menasha’s Wild Apple Gallery, Blue Moon Emporium in Appleton, or on her Facebook page, Kaffers Illustration.

For an extended interview with Boettcher, click here.