	Gabriele KOCH Dates: 1948- Born in Lorach in Southern Germany, she makes handbuilt, burnished and smoke-fired vessels. She took a degree in history and political science University of Heidelberg (1967-1973) and during that time travelled to Spain where she became inspired by the pots that she saw there. She settled in England after 1974 teaching German in a South London comprehensive school. She studied ceramics first at Camden Institute (1974-1977) and later at Goldsmiths (1979-1981). Attracted to the qualities of traditional low-fired earthenware she developed a technique of coiling in wide straps of clay using 'T' Material, smoothing the walls to give a poised organic shape. Careful control of the drying process is required before she applies a fine slip coloured with oxides or stains. Finally, she burnishes the surface. An initial biscuit firing is followed by a sawdust firing in an oil drum, which creates the smoke-fired effects on the rich sheen of the surface. She exhibits widely in Britain, Germany and elsewhere and has had many solo shows. Her work is held in public collections in Britain, Germany and Switzerland

Gabriele KOCH

Dates: 1948-

Born in Lorach in Southern Germany, she makes handbuilt, burnished and smoke-fired vessels. She took a degree in history and political science University of Heidelberg (1967-1973) and during that time travelled to Spain where she became inspired by the pots that she saw there. She settled in England after 1974 teaching German in a South London comprehensive school. She studied ceramics first at Camden Institute (1974-1977) and later at Goldsmiths (1979-1981).

Attracted to the qualities of traditional low-fired earthenware she developed a technique of coiling in wide straps of clay using 'T' Material, smoothing the walls to give a poised organic shape. Careful control of the drying process is required before she applies a fine slip coloured with oxides or stains. Finally, she burnishes the surface. An initial biscuit firing is followed by a sawdust firing in an oil drum, which creates the smoke-fired effects on the rich sheen of the surface.

She exhibits widely in Britain, Germany and elsewhere and has had many solo shows. Her work is held in public collections in Britain, Germany and Switzerland