Kartini Thomas MRSS

Kartini Thomas draws on her background in biology and a fascination with monsters and modular toys to create playful, immersive landscapes inhabited by creatures that are at once endearing and unsettling. Her sculptural forms—both meticulously crafted and intuitively assembled—explore themes of biodiversity, monstrosity, and otherness. Each piece is fired up to five times at varying temperatures, resulting in rich, layered textures and vibrant colours.

Thomas has been recognised both for her technical mastery in ceramics and the conceptual depth of her work, which has resonated strongly within the contemporary art world. Her creations have been featured in major craft fairs such as Collect (London), Ceramics Brussels, and Révélations (Paris and Beijing), as well as in contemporary art venues including the Schneider Foundation, Villa Datris, and the Lefebvre & Fils and Revel galleries in France. Her work has attracted media attention in publications such as Vogue France, ELLE Decoration Netherlands, Marie Claire Maison Arabia, and featured on the cover of the Revue de la Céramique et du Verre.

An American artist who grew up in Australia and New Zealand, Thomas studied at the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and Reed College in Portland, Oregon. She now lives and works on the Île d’Oléron, France.