Karl Owen

Karl is a Cornwall, UK based ceramic artist, working predominantly with saggar-firing and wheel thrown ceramics. Born and raised in Wales, Karl has been working in the field of ceramics for over 35 years. Having studied ceramics at Falmouth School of Art & Design in the late 80s, Karl went onto earn a degree in ceramics at Farnham University and later helped to set up the pottery at The Poly, Falmouth in 2018 where he continues to teach and make work today.

Karls’ work revolves around the idea of beauty and simple aesthetic forms, with nature playing a large role in the design and decoration of each piece. Each ceramic vessel has a completely unique surface decoration created using gathered plants and other organic materials burnt into the clay using a saggar-firing method.

The vessels are thrown in white stoneware or semi porcelain and are then highly burnished, while

making sure not to remove all throwing marks. This is to encourage the development of the surfaces and to capture the delicate qualities of the materials.

Exhibited widely in Cornwall, Denmark and London over the years, Karl continues to expand his practice show his work internationally.