Internationally renowned sculptor, Kathy Venter, is recognized for her unique, life-size terracotta sculptures. Originally from South Africa, she received her M.F.A. in Sculpture from Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design and emigrated to Canada in 1989. Venter builds her life-size ceramic sculptures by hand using the extended pinch method – similar to large vessel building. No molds are used as the hollow, completed wet clay sculptures are 15% larger than life size to shrink to the desired scale after firing. Polychrome layers of Hydro-stone are applied after firing, and then sandblasted to produce earthy surfaces resembling cooled lava, revealing the detailed clay body underneath. Her limited-edition small bronzes are all ideas and used as maquettes for Her immersion series. With extensive exhibitions, Venter’s work has been featured at the Gardiner Museum, Toronto, Canada; Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA; Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA; Deuthebank/Circa Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa; and IMA, San Juan Islands, WA. Venter currently lives and works on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, with her husband, painter Deon Venter.