Klytie Pate
Encyclopedia
Klytie Pate was an Australia
n Studio Potter who emerged as an innovator in the use of unusual glazes and the extensive incising, piercing and ornamentation of earthenware pottery. She was one of a small group of Melbourne art potters which included Marguerite Mahood and Reg Preston
who were pioneers in the 1930‘s of ceramic art nationwide. Her early work was strongly influenced by her aunt, the artist and printmaker, Christian Waller.
She became renowned for her high quality pottery which is eagerly sought after by museums, art galleries, collectors and auction houses.
encouraged her interest in art and printmaking. She spent time at their studio in Ivanhoe, and thus her work reflected Art Deco
, Art Nouveau
, The Pre Raphaelites, Egyptian art
, Greek mythology
, and Theosophy
.
Pate made several plaster masks that were displayed by the Wallers in their home and experimented with linocut, a medium used by Christian in her printmaking. Her aunt further encouraged Klytie by arranging for her to study modelling under Ola Cohn
, the Melbourne sculptor.
In 1931, at the age of 19, Klytie studied painting and drawing at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School
under William Beckwith McInnes
and Charles Arthur Wheeler.
In 1933 Klytie took classes at the School of Applied Art at Melbourne Technical College now known as RMIT University
. She studied figure drawing and applied art under her uncle, Napier Waller
, modelling under George Allen, and pottery under John Knight and Gladys Kelly. Her environment, her unusual talent, her training, and her drive started Klytie on a path to recognition which increased as time went on. Klytie was also surrounded by the flora
and fauna
of Australia, and its unique shapes and colours. As a young woman she loved taking trips to the bush, visiting the Mornington Peninsula
, and the Dandenongs with groups of friends.
Klytie strongly demonstrated the influence of “Australiana” during that period with lyre birds, kangaroos and native flowers incised into her pottery.
She taught at Melbourne Technical College until 1945, when she was then able to pursue pottery full time. The Pates lived in a flat on the Punt Road hill, where her studio was located.
In 1947, Klytie, together with Alan Lowe, became the first ceramicists to have their studio pottery purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria. In 1983 Pate was the first woman in her particular field for which a retrospective was held at the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2008 she was the sole living Australian artist featured included in the Art Deco exhibition held at NGV.
"Beleura", on the Mornington Peninsula, is a historic house managed by the National Trust of Australia
, Victoria
, where Klytie's pottery is displayed throughout.
Her work was collected by John Tallis, who owned Beleura and was a personal friend of the Pates. Following his death the Tallis family and Foundation continued to add to the collection of Klytie's pottery.
Making pottery was a process that Klytie carried out from beginning to end. Careful in the clay she selected, in more recent years she worked from a home studio.
In 1991 Klytie was awarded the Order of Australia
, for service to the Arts, particularly ceramic art and sculpture.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Studio Potter who emerged as an innovator in the use of unusual glazes and the extensive incising, piercing and ornamentation of earthenware pottery. She was one of a small group of Melbourne art potters which included Marguerite Mahood and Reg Preston
Reg Preston
Reg Preston studied sculpture at the Westminster School of Art in London, in 1938. At the beginning of WW2 he returned to Australia and spent three months in 1944 potting at the Melbourne Technical College with John A. Barnard Knight and Klytie Pate...
who were pioneers in the 1930‘s of ceramic art nationwide. Her early work was strongly influenced by her aunt, the artist and printmaker, Christian Waller.
She became renowned for her high quality pottery which is eagerly sought after by museums, art galleries, collectors and auction houses.
Early life
Clytie Winifred Wingfield Sclater (later Klytie Pate) was born in Melbourne in 1912. Her father remarried when she was 13, so Klytie went to live with her aunt, Christian Waller. Christian and her husband Napier WallerNapier Waller
Mervyn Napier Waller CMG OBE was a noted Australian muralist, mosaicist and painter in stained glass and other media. He is perhaps best known for the mosaics and stained glass for the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, completed in 1958...
encouraged her interest in art and printmaking. She spent time at their studio in Ivanhoe, and thus her work reflected Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
, Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, The Pre Raphaelites, Egyptian art
Egyptian Art
Egyptian Art may refer to:*The Art of ancient Egypt, c. 5000 BCE - c. 300 BCE*Hellenistic art of Egypt, c. 300 BCE - c. 100 CE, during the Ptolemaic dynasty*Coptic art c. 100 CE - present, see, e.g., Coptic iconography...
, Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, and Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
.
Pate made several plaster masks that were displayed by the Wallers in their home and experimented with linocut, a medium used by Christian in her printmaking. Her aunt further encouraged Klytie by arranging for her to study modelling under Ola Cohn
Ola Cohn
Ola Cohn, born Carola Cohn in Bendigo was an Australian artist, author and philanphropist best known for her work in sculpture in a modernist style and famous for her Fairies Tree in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne....
, the Melbourne sculptor.
In 1931, at the age of 19, Klytie studied painting and drawing at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School
National Gallery of Victoria Art School
The National Gallery of Victoria Art School , associated with the National Gallery of Victoria, was founded in 1867. It was the leading centre for academic art training in Australia until about 1910. Among its luminaries, the school was headed by John Brack from 1962-68 and Sir William Dargie was...
under William Beckwith McInnes
William Beckwith McInnes
William Beckwith McInnes was an Australian portrait painter, winner of the Archibald Prize seven times for his traditional style paintings.-Early life:...
and Charles Arthur Wheeler.
In 1933 Klytie took classes at the School of Applied Art at Melbourne Technical College now known as RMIT University
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
. She studied figure drawing and applied art under her uncle, Napier Waller
Napier Waller
Mervyn Napier Waller CMG OBE was a noted Australian muralist, mosaicist and painter in stained glass and other media. He is perhaps best known for the mosaics and stained glass for the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, completed in 1958...
, modelling under George Allen, and pottery under John Knight and Gladys Kelly. Her environment, her unusual talent, her training, and her drive started Klytie on a path to recognition which increased as time went on. Klytie was also surrounded by the flora
Flora of Australia
The flora of Australia comprises a vast assemblage of plant species estimated to over 20,000 vascular and 14,000 non-vascular plants, 250,000 species of fungi and over 3,000 lichens...
and fauna
Fauna of Australia
The fauna of Australia consists of a huge variety of animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that inhabit the continent are endemic to Australia...
of Australia, and its unique shapes and colours. As a young woman she loved taking trips to the bush, visiting the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
, and the Dandenongs with groups of friends.
Pre War Years
In a drawing class at RMIT she met William Pate, who was to become a graphic designer and painter. They married in 1937, and built a weekend cottage at Montrose on the side of Mount Dandenong, an area that then teemed with bush animals and birds- favoured subjects of her pots. The cottage was called “Joliwynds”.Klytie strongly demonstrated the influence of “Australiana” during that period with lyre birds, kangaroos and native flowers incised into her pottery.
Post war
In 1941 Klytie held her first solo exhibition of pottery at the Kominsky Gallery in Melbourne. She continued to exhibit regularly for the next 50 years.She taught at Melbourne Technical College until 1945, when she was then able to pursue pottery full time. The Pates lived in a flat on the Punt Road hill, where her studio was located.
In 1947, Klytie, together with Alan Lowe, became the first ceramicists to have their studio pottery purchased by the National Gallery of Victoria. In 1983 Pate was the first woman in her particular field for which a retrospective was held at the National Gallery of Victoria. In 2008 she was the sole living Australian artist featured included in the Art Deco exhibition held at NGV.
"Beleura", on the Mornington Peninsula, is a historic house managed by the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, where Klytie's pottery is displayed throughout.
Her work was collected by John Tallis, who owned Beleura and was a personal friend of the Pates. Following his death the Tallis family and Foundation continued to add to the collection of Klytie's pottery.
The Potter
Klytie Pate’s pots take form in numerous shapes and sizes. Over the years she managed to produce a staggering amount of pottery, much of which is distributed in private collections across Australia, which makes it difficult to grasp the scope of her work. Even so, galleries often had to wait for an opportunity to exhibit her work as she became better known. She made lidded jars, large bowls and vases, lamp bases, jugs, animals and birds, large decorated plates, wall tiles, tea sets and mugs. Klytie went through different periods where she concentrated on a certain colour glaze, shape, or theme in the production of her pots. However, notably, apart from sets of cups and saucers, no two pieces are the same.Making pottery was a process that Klytie carried out from beginning to end. Careful in the clay she selected, in more recent years she worked from a home studio.
In 1991 Klytie was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, for service to the Arts, particularly ceramic art and sculpture.
Gallery and Museum Collections
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, VIC:
- City of Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Ballarat, VIC
- Beleura, National Trust of Australia, Mornington, VIC
- National Museum of Australia, Canberra, NSW
- The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW