Katherine Wheeler is a Melbourne based artist, who completed a bachelor of Fine arts, Gold and silversmithing at RMIT in 2007, and a Diploma of fine arts at RMIT in 2003. Since graduating she has continued to make art jewellery and hollow ware in her Melbourne studio. In 2010 she collaborated with Printmaking artist Abby Seymour for the exhibition Hidden Facets, which was shown at Hand Held gallery in Melbourne, and Gaffa Gallery in Sydney. She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Australia and two international shows, including Melbourne Hollow Ware, at Gallerie Marzee in the Netherlands, Precious Pendants at Object gallery in Sydney, Figment at E.g.etal in Melbourne, and in 2011 The art of Engagement at Objectspace in New Zealand. Her work is represented in the Gallerie Marzee collection, and the W.E.McMillan Collection. Katherine enjoys the process of making, and pushing the materials she uses (fine silver, porcelain, polymer clay, glass, paper) to produce unexpected results. (Craft Victoria)
« Wheeler works impulsively, and intuitively to create mysteriously fragile and beautiful jewellery and hollow ware objects. Through her work, themes of the ambiguous and curious are explored, while inspiration is drawn from sea life, collection, domestic objects, memory and the anthropomorphic. Wheeler’s intruiging work posesses a sense of illusion, which is created through colour, form,technique and materials.« (it’s what « Wheeler » says on her blog ! 
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« My jewellery pieces are mostly oversized, sculptural and reflect the hollow ware pieces. They are made as jewellery so they will have a connection point to the body.
I really like making oversized rings. When worn they can have the appearance and feel of a growth, or being a continuation of the body, living and existing, or co-existing with the person«
Katherine Wheeler – « Tin Ring » (2007) : copper, silver, paint – (image by the artist)
(a 2010 exhibition)
« The concept of the home, living spaces, domestic objects, and how they relate to the body inspire my work. Natural forms (sea life) do have a definite influence over the aesthetic of my work.
Genetic engineering and human intervention in nature is also something I think about when making. Often my pieces have an anthropomorphic feel, which I think can contribute to the success of a piece.
White is also a dominant feature of your work – tell me why?
I use white for several reasons. It gives the appearance of something aged, dried out, skeletal or fossilised.
It camouflages and unifies the different materials, possibly tricking the eye as to what it is seeing, and how it would feel.
White mutes, accentuates marks from making, and gives beauty. » (thanks for interview, informations & pictures to the MelbourneJeweller)
Katherine Wheeler – Frill structure ring 2009 – porcelain, linen thread, paint
Katherine Wheeler – « Existence ring » on the body 2010
Katherine Wheeler – Existence ring 2010 - silver, porcelain, linen thread, paint
Katherine Wheeler urchin ring on the body
Katherine Wheeler – Lace Cup Fungi Collar (2010-2011)
Katherine Wheeler - rock coral rings
Katherine Wheeler – Inhale Neckpiece 2010
Katherine Wheeler -Funghi Ring
Katherine Wheeler - White series (rings) 2007 – Fine silver, sterling silver, paper, paint – (Photo Jeremy Dillon)
Megan Mitchell – Gash (detail), 2012
