Catharina Goldnau moved to Canada from Germany at the age of 19. After academic studies, (B.A. Honours English and Spanish, York University; M.A. in Applied Psychology and Ph.D. candidate University of Toronto), a career as a French Immersion Teacher and raising 4 children, Catharina entered studies in ceramics at Sheridan College, under Linda Sormin and Laura Kukkee, graduating with a BA in Craft and Design 2018.

In her ceramic practise she explores non-traditional ways to manipulate clays, combining unconventional materials for intriguing variations of form and surface, including low to high-fire clays with and without material additions, glazes in electric and atmospheric kilns, hand-building, wheel-throwing and slip-casting techniques, all in the quest to make unconventional pieces of art designed for use. Meaning is created in a tension that she sees as nature vs. culture. Her objects are a mix of fragments of culture and craggy nature that tell a story.

Goldnau has exhibited her work since 2010 at various local venues. Winner of several awards including the Gardiner Museum Graduating Award of a solo exhibit in the Gardiner Museum lobby vitrine in 2019, and at TOAF 2018, she recently showed her work at IDS in Jan 2019.

Additionally, she hosts and organizes several private shows, donating all proceeds to charity.

Catharina will be giving a talk about her work and a demo on additives to clay.