Photo: TMP
Photo: TMP

Hoola

USA, 1995
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Date acquired:
Materials:
Porcelain
Form - Functional:
Vase
Form - Sculptural: N/A
Method:
Hand-Built
Cast
Surface Technique: N/A
Kiln Type: N/A
Glazes:
Glaze
Kathy Butterly

Kathy Butterly is known for her elegantly designed and decorated small-scale porcelain sculptures. Each sculpture begins with the same cast vessel form. * The finished form is created by twisting, pinching, building, and otherwise manipulating the perfect classic vessel form to create unique pieces.The pieces are frequently glazed in a bright palette of colors accented with black and white.

During this process she, ?thinks a lot about the quality of the lines,? she is creating.The resulting forms are reminiscent of the work of George Ohr. The altered forms often suggest the human body, an image she enhances by the addition of appendages. Butterly says she thinks of the pieces as, ?containers for color?. * The subtle rich surface colors are the result of the application of numerous layers of glazes and using as many as 40 firings. *

*Butterly discussing her work, 92Y Virtual Clay and NCECA: Kathy Butterly: ?Looking Back and Looking Forward?, February 6, 2018.

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Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Butterly in other collections

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These records have been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced.

Last updated: April 22, 2026

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