Katja Abbott
Katja Abbott is an artist working in many media of which DAOR has exhibited ceramic sculpture and mixed media works on canvas. Her anthropomorphic animals and playful titles merge her imaginary worlds with the real threat of ecological impact of wilderness loss on humans and animals alike, creating a magical universe in which the two understand their interconnectedness. Her subject matter draws from the dream states and the surreal they represent. The bridge she builds between humans and animals evoke a place where they thrive in tandem, interacting with one another in colourful dreamscapes, and creating a new world where they happily coexist. Abbott’s work has been exhibited at DAOR Contemporary on group exhibitions Autumn 2021, Winter 2021, and three-artist show play play with Porterville neighbours Carin Dorrington and JP Meyer.
Katja Abbott, The Blue Keeper, 2021, Ceramic with bright blue and yellow glaze, 47 x 27 x 28 cm
Katja Abbott, Modjadji, 2022 ceramic, 38 x 22 x 8 cm
Katja Abbott, Yemoja, 2022, Ceramic with red-glazed boots, 37 x 20 x 8 cm
Katja Abbott, Fluit fluit my storie is uit, 2022, Ceramic with clear glaze and mottle, 36 x 20 x 12 cm
Katja Abbott, Foo Muncher, 2022, Ceramic with light orange glaze, 23 x 25 x 15 cm
Katja Abbott, Bobimbi, 2022, Ceramic with sky blue glaze, 26 x 19 x 15 cm
Katja Abbott, Bombay Bedonkadonk, 2022, Ceramic with mint green Glaze, 25 x 22 x 15 cm
Katja Abbott, Bazinga, 2022, Ceramic with lime green glaze, 26 x 22 x 15 cm
Katja Abbott, Kittywompuss, 2022, Ceramic with red glaze, 32 x 32 x 23 cm
Katja Abbott, Oros, 2022, Ceramic with bright orange glaze, 24 x 21 x 17 cm
Katja Abbott, Desmond and Molly (Life Goes On), 2021, ceramic and found object
Katja Abbott, What on Earth!, 2020, ceramic and wood, 34 x 21 x 16 cm
Katja Abbott, El Tigre, 2020, wood-fired ceramic, 17 x 27.5 x 18 cm
Katja Abbott, Who’s afraid of…, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 80 x 70 cm
Katja Abbott, Bird Dancer, 2019, mixed media on board, 60 x 45cm
Katja Abbott, The Tiger’s Tale, 2022 Acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40cm
Katja Abbott, Once upon a time (The Dog Prince), 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 51 x 51 cm
Katja Abbott, The Whitening, 2020. monotype, collage, and mixed media, 32 x 36.5 cm
Katja Abbott, Little Red, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 35 x 35 cm
Katja Abbott, Carnivale, 2021, collage and mixed media, 55 x 46.5
Katja Abbott, Kung Fox Fu, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 25 cm
Katja Abbott, WD & the Rocket, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 25 cm
Katja Abbott, Haas in Luck, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 40.5 x 40.5 cm
Katja Abbott, Goose Girl, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 71 x 55 cm
Katja Abbott, Flatland, 2017, mixed media and collage on board, 24x76cm
Katja Abbott, Widd, 2022, Ceramic, hand dyed recycled fabric, wire, 39 x 15 x 11 cm
Katja Abbott, Waiting for Jeremiah, 2017, Mixed media on paper, 73 x 52 cm
Katja Abbott, Thermalia, 2023, Ceramic, hand dyed recycled fabric, wire, 31 x 11 x 11 cm
Katja Abbott, Petalanthus, 2023, Ceramic hand dyed recycled fabric wire, 33 x 9 x 12 cm
Katja Abbott, Moving like wind & water, 2022, Monotype collage, 45 x 45 cm
Katja Abbott, Articulating the Fates, 2022, Monotype collage, 45 x 45 cm
Selected group exhibitions
2021
Winter 2021, DAOR Contemporary, Cape Town
Autumn 2021, DAOR Contemporary, Cape Town
2020
Kalk Bay Modern Online Exhibition
RK Contemporary, Riebeek Kasteel, She
Kalk Bay Modern Sculpture & Ceramics Exhibition
RK Contemporary, Riebeek Kasteel, What on Earth
IS Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, Hamba Kahle 2020
2019
Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville, BIRDS
Finalist Tollman, Bouchard and Finlayson Art Award, Hermanus.
Fynarts Ceramic Exhibition, Hermanus.
Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg.
Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Connected by Fire.
IS Art Gallery Stellenbosch, Group Exhibition
2018
FynArts Ceramic Exhibition, Hermanus.
Wildekrans, Houhoek, Open Gardens Spring Exhibition
Katja Abbott – Artist Biography
After studying graphic design and working as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and editor for many years, I am currently completing a Visual Arts degree through UNISA. The primary source of inspiration for my work is the imagery that emerges from the realm of dreams and the subconscious. My art practice allows for the unpremeditated emergence of forms and imaginary worlds that lie below the surface of everyday reality.
I am concerned with the effect that the loss of wild wilderness spaces has on the wellbeing of both humans and animals. I explore this disconnect from wilderness, wildness and our instinctual intuitive nature using a variety of mediums including clay, textiles and mixed media. I live in Porterville, a small town at the base of the Olifant’s River mountains on the West Coast.