Annette ten Cate’s studio is located in Grey County, Ontario, but she got her start in clay at the Guelph Sculpture Group about 20 years ago. Annette has participated in many group and solo exhibitions and is represented by galleries nationally. Her love for hand-formed clay was immediate and compelled her to study ceramics full-time at Sheridan College in Oakville. After graduation Annette was accepted into a year-long residency at Medalta’s International Artist in Residence program in Alberta’s Historic Clay District. There, she refined her practice and changed her focus from the human figure to local wildlife. Each piece is hand-built using earthenware and just a few simple wooden tools.
In speaking about her work, Annette says:
The human figure was originally at the heart of my focus in clay, but the source of my inspiration shifted as I became acutely aware of the wildlife around me. It became important to me, as an artist, to tell the story of creatures finding a way to survive in a world shared and usually dominated by humans. I wanted to draw attention to wild animals who had managed to adapt to life among humans, and who had often earned the unfair reputation as “pests”. As much as my goal is to create pleasing images that make people smile, I also feel strongly that I must somehow convey the importance of respecting and preserving nature and its inhabitants. My approach has been to depict wildlife subjects in almost human narratives, injecting the scenarios with humour and lightheartedness. By making my work accessible and fun, I hope to generate a connection that encourages viewers to appreciate and protect the natural world around them.
Annette ten Cate
Annette ten Cate Left: Sheep Right: Visible Mending, all hand-built earthenware