About
Katie Kearns They/Them (b. 1989, St. Petersburg, FL, USA) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Berlin, Germany.
Katie’s work reflects on the interplay of memory, identity, and place. Often beginning with an interest in domestic objects and spaces, They disrupt the quiet familiarity of an old chair or dresser through surrealist interventions–alluding to the symbiotic way objects appear to absorb memory, as well as the fluidity of queer experience.
Katie received their Bachelors of Fine Art, with a concentration in Ceramics from Florida Atlantic University in 2014. After graduating they moved back to their hometown of St. Petersburg, FL where they worked as a studio artist. In 2018 they became an Artist in Residence at the Morean Center for Clay, culminating in their first solo show entitled “St. Petian”. From there they moved in Baton Rogue, LA to participate in the Post-Baccalaureate program at Louisiana State University. In 2020 they began the Master’s of Fine Art program at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and in 2023 graduated with their MFA degree with a concentration in Ceramics and Sculpture, finalised by their solo thesis Exhibition, “Cultivate”.
Katie has exhibited their works throughout the United States in numerous group shows, notably the 2020 NCECA Juried Student Show in Richmond, VA., as well as Internationally. Most recently they have exhibited a series of sculptures in a joint exhibition with Painter Leeza Negelev at the Hošek Contemporary in Berlin, Germany.
Katie moved to Berlin in 2024 where they work as a studio artist. In 2026 they co-founded Soft Power Studios with their partner, Getsay.
cv
EDUCATION
2023 Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Masters of Fine Arts, Ceramics and Sculpture
2019 Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Post Baccalaureate, Ceramics
2014 Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Bachelors of Fine Arts, Ceramics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2026 Co-Founder/Artist, Soft Power Studios
Berlin, Germany
2024 Instructor, Peace Out Paradise Ceramics Studio
Berlin, Germany 2024 - Present
Artist, Atelier Member, Kollektiv UN1 Gallery and Atelier
Berlin, Germany
2023 Graduate Instructor: Introduction to Hand-built Ceramics
Georgia State University, Atlanta,GA
2022 Graduate Instructor: Introduction to Mold Making
Georgia State University, Atlanta,GA
Graduate Instructor: Introduction to Wheel-Thrown Ceramics
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
2021 Graduate Instructor: 3-Dimensional Design Fundamentals
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Graduate Teaching Assistant: Three-Dimensional Design Fundamentals
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
2019 Instructor, Throw Me Something Ceramics Studio
Baton Rouge, LA
2015-18 Artist/Studio Member, Morean Center for Clay
St. Petersburg, FL
2014-15 Production Assistant/Screen Printer, Go All Day Athletic Apparel
Delray Beach, FL
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
2018-19 Morean Center for Clay
St. Petersburg, FL
EXHIBITIONS
2025 “To Close a Small Distance”, Joint Exhibition with Leeza Negelev
Hošek Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
2023 “Cultivate”, Solo Thesis Exhibition
Jack Sinclair Gallery, East Point, GA
2022 “The Kitchen Sink”, GSU Ceramics Group Show
Jack Sinclair Gallery, East Point, GA
2021 “Home Training: an Experiential Gallery Show” by HERE{after},
HL Green Pop-up gallery space, Atlanta, GA
“indistinct chatter”, GSU MFA Group Show
HL Green Pop-up gallery space, Atlanta, GA
“Queer and Dear” Ceramics Group Show
Saltstone Ceramics Gallery, Seattle, WA
“Back in Pink”
Gallery 650, Atlanta, GA
2020 NCECA Juried Student Exhibition
Artspace Gallery, Richmond, VA
“6,696 Miles to Here”
Gallery 650, Atlanta, GA
2019 “St. Petian”, Solo Exhibition
Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL
Art Festival Beth-El
Temple Beth-El, St. Petersburg, FL
2018 “Peanut Gallery”, Artist in Residence Exhibition
Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL
2017 Florida CraftArt Festival
St. Petersburg, FL
2014 “Exit 26”, BFA Exhibition
Ritter Gallery, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
ARTIST TALKS
2021 SouthEast Seminar,
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
2018 Morean Center for Clay Artists in Residence Exhibition,
Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg, FL
AWARDS
2022 Andrew M. West Memorial Art Scholarship,
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
Welch Graduate Supplemental Funding Award
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
2021 Welch Graduate Supplemental Funding Award
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
2020 Welch Fellowship Award
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
2017 Florida CraftArt Festival Emerging Artist
St. Petersburg, FL
SERVICE
2021-2023 S.L.I.P.S. (Student League of Independent Potters and Sculptors),
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
President, 2021-2022
Vice President, 2022-2023
SKILLS
Ceramics: Hand Building, Wheel Throwing, Glaze
Chemistry, Slip Casting, Clay mixing,
Electric Kiln Firing and
Maintenance,Gas Firing.
Intermediate proficiency in Wood, Soda
and Salt Firings.
Sculpture: Silicone Mold-making, Life Cast Mold-
making, Plaster Mold-making, Wood
working, MIG welding, Plasma cutting
2-D Silk Screen Printing, Drawing,
Painting
Software: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator,
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams,
SketchUp, Tinkercad, iCollege, Canva