Air & Earth Design: Heidi von der Gathen

Heidi von der Gathen received a B.F.A., Sculpture, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For ten years she taught, exhibited, and curated in the States, Canada, EU and Japan. She established a successful career in commercial post-production that culminated in a fruitful business partnership and Heidi’s position of Partner/ Executive Producer. Inspired by years of travel, Heidi returned to personal creative practice in late 2016. Encouraged by word-of-mouth interest and subsequent sales, she founded Air & Earth Design in 2017.

With Air & Earth Design, Heidi executes her work in precious metal clay. Tiny bits of recycled silver or gold are suspended in a clay base. Inspired by a recent technique from Japan, she fires these materials in a kiln at 1600F. The process leaves only metal behind, burning off each pieces clay binders. Heidi tears, molds, collages and cuts into the material before it is fired. The result is entirely unique. Hand crafted by the artist, each work varies in colour, pattern, size and weight.