Karen Kotze’s solo presentation in The Cube is both visually pleasing and interactive.
In Curating Vessels, each lidded porcelain vessel is designed to be recombined, allowing the viewer to become curator. Botanical-inspired sculptural knobs rest atop vessels of varying shapes and sizes, with lids and bases that can be paired in multiple ways.
Visitors are invited to select their own combinations and experiment with how concave, convex, and linear silhouettes interact with sculptural forms.
Cape Town based ceramicist and founder of Woven Ceramics, Karen has spent over 20 years working with clay, creating both functional and sculptural pieces with a focus on material processes and glaze development. She studied Fine Art at Stellenbosch University and previously led the ceramics studio at Spier Arts Academy, mentoring emerging artists.
Her work has been exhibited locally and internationally and includes collaborations on large scale public ceramic installations.
The Cube at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery
Tucked alongside the Rust-en-Vrede Clay Museum in Durbanville, The CUBE is a compact but purposeful exhibition space dedicated to short-run, focused presentations.
The Clay Museum itself, initiated by Maartin Zaalberg, houses a carefully curated collection of predominantly contemporary South African ceramics. Spanning hand-building, wheel-throwing, surface decoration, and firing techniques, the collection offers a clear view into the range and evolution of local ceramic practice. It continues to grow steadily, serving as a valuable resource for artists, students, educators, and anyone interested in the medium.
Set alongside is the Clay Museum with a growing collection of predominantly contemporary South African ceramics. The space operates as a platform for experimentation.
The broader institution’s role in the field has also been formally recognised, with the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery and Clay Museum now an affiliate member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), a UNESCO-linked global network dedicated to excellence in ceramic arts.
