katherine kalaf

Trained in fine arts and graphic design, it was during a period of living in London that KATHERINE KALAF identified jewellery and object making as a direction of strong interest. She undertook postgraduate study at the famous City of London Polytechnic, The Sir John Cass School of Art, affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.

Early in her jewellery career, Katherine was asked by the Fremantle City Council to design and make a present for His Royal Highness, Prince Charles on the occasion of his visit to Perth in 1970.

This commission was followed by the inaugural trophy for the Parmelia Yacht Race, for the Royal Perth Yacht Club and a number of other commemorative and ceremonial commissions.

An award from the Australia Council for the Arts supported Artist in Residence appointments at two prestigious universities in the United States, Rhode Island School of Design and Pennsylvania State University.

In 1980 she took up a position to lecture at Sydney College for the Arts in the Department of 3D Design, one of the few colleges offering a comprehensive course on jewellery design linked to a fine arts degree.

Her interest in the development of a retail context to display the growing number of studio based jewellers’ works led to the opening of her gallery and workshop in Sydney’s Surry Hills (Studio Noko), and then its relocation to the fashion and design centre of Double Bay.

Since returning to Perth, Katherine was awarded a consultancy contract at the ART GALLERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, worked in at The National Exhibitions Touring Structure for WA (ART ON THE MOVE) and in the Planning and Policy Division at the Department of Culture and the Arts and authored the current jewellery and 3D Design course at Central TAFE.

Returning to her passion, she planned and opened the KATHERINE KALAF GALLERY in November 2004. It is the first venue in Perth purpose built for the presentation and promotion of studio based jewellers’ works.

Katherine Kalaf is director of the gallery and directly involved in the daily running of its operations, as well as overseeing a full exhibition program and the design and making of her own collections.

Katherine’s work is represented in state collections and continues an active participation as a maker in the field. Katherine Kalaf is represented by works in the National Gallery, Canberra, The Powerhouse Museum and Art Gallery, NSW, Queensland Art Gallery, The Art Gallery of Western Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.