Karla Way

I like to play with materials that look like they could potentially be other materials, and presenting the pieces as some sort of archaeological artefact. I like the sense of ambiguity about what the material actually is, and what time and place it’s from.

Karla Way is interested in intersections between culture and nature, and within nature itself, the points where metamorphosis that takes place. Karla creates archaic and organic forms employing rocky, botanical and fauna like textures and motifs to explore these concepts of transformation. Inspired by ancient artefacts and natural history she draws inspiration from the extensive pre-history of jewellery, hollowware and personal object.

Karla began her jewellery studies at NMIT TAFE in 2001 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours - Gold and Silversmithing) at RMIT University in 2008. Her graduate work was short listed for the Fillipo Raphael Fresh! Award at Craft Victoria in Melbourne, 2007, Hatched at Pica in Perth and Design Now: Object Gallery in Sydney, 2009. Karla has participated in group exhibitions nationally at Craft Victoria, Courtesy of the Artist and Pieces of Eight, and internationally at Gallerie Marzee in the Netherlands and Velvet da Vinci and Gallery Loupe in the USA.