Karma Taylor
CERAMIC ARTIST
My work centres around strong lines, confident forms, and a rich, balanced palette. Guided by Scandinavian minimalism with a touch of mid-century retro, I aim to create pieces that feel both bold and considered. I believe the objects we live with do more than serve a function. They invite pause, create connection, and bring presence and beauty into daily life. Through clay, I hope to craft pieces that are timeless and meaningful, made to be held, lived with, and returned to.
I am originally from Gothenburg, on the West Coast of Sweden. After two decades working as an art director in the corporate world, I hit the proverbial wall and emerged burned out and directionless. It wasn’t until a long sabbatical, spent hiking 15,000 km on foot over multiple continents, that I slowly regained my centre.
Those years in the backcountry fostered a deep connection to nature and sparked a quiet shift — a desire to create with natural materials rather than pixels. Clay offered a medium that felt both grounding and expressive. Through it, I found space for experimentation, healing, and growth.
That journey changed the course of my life. It led me to Aotearoa New Zealand and to my partner, Scott. For years, we lived a nomadic life, hiking across the world together. When the pandemic paused our expedition, we put down roots on the West Coast of New Zealand. Now I’m once again a West Coast girl — just on the other side of the world.
I live and work in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, where rainforest meets limestone cliffs and the Tasman Sea. My small studio is nestled into this dramatic landscape, and every day it reminds me why I make: to connect, to create, and to honour the materials that shape us.
Each piece is made by hand, primarily wheel-thrown, but I also hand-build some pieces or do a blend of both techniques. I mix all of my glazes from scratch and have developed a distinctive palette of elemental tones that reflects this place and sets my work apart. The ceramic process is slow, deliberate, and full of moving parts, and I don’t believe in shortcuts. Working in small batches allows me to stay close to the process and uphold the integrity of each piece.
Ceramics is both resource- and energy-intensive, and I’m always refining my practice to reduce impact. My primary clay body is made from 100% New Zealand clay, refined here on the South Island. We rely on rainwater, and my electric kiln and studio are powered largely by the solar energy we generate on-site. I reuse, recycle, and stay conscious — because care isn’t only in the making, but in how we live alongside what we create.
Functional ware
The objects we use every day should do more than serve a function — they should enrich our lives through beauty, presence, and care. Thoughtfully made, tactile pieces have the power to transform daily routines into meaningful, sensory moments.
Functional ware
The objects we use every day should do more than serve a function — they should enrich our lives through beauty, presence, and care. Thoughtfully made, tactile pieces have the power to transform daily routines into meaningful, sensory moments.
Sculptural work
Sculptural work moves beyond function, inviting exploration, imagination, and new ways of seeing. It opens space for diverse techniques and materials, encouraging fresh perspectives and creative possibility.
Sculptural work
Sculptural work moves beyond function, inviting exploration, imagination, and new ways of seeing. It opens space for diverse techniques and materials, encouraging fresh perspectives and creative possibility.