Marboe's work in a styled room
Artist

Marboe

Marboe’s practice functions as a detective’s investigation into the narratives of people, places, and missing objects.

5 Works
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Works by Marboe

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Graphic 55 — framed, leaning against the wall

Graphic 55

Marboe

£19.99
Graphic 3 — framed, leaning against the wall

Graphic 3

Marboe

£19.99
Graphic 33 — framed, leaning against the wall

Graphic 33

Marboe

£19.99
Colorful 2 — framed, leaning against the wall

Colorful 2

Marboe

£19.99
Graphic C — framed, leaning against the wall

Graphic C

Marboe

£19.99

About Marboe

Every sale pays Marboe directly.A meaningful share of each purchase goes to the artist.

Kari Marboe (1984–2022) was a Bay Area artist and educator whose work bridged the gap between historical research and physical form. With degrees from California College of the Arts and UC Berkeley, she developed a "detective" approach to ceramics, often digging into archives to uncover stories of lost objects and forgotten people. Her practice frequently involved site-specific materials, such as soil, to ground her installations in the very places she studied. As an Assistant Professor at CCA and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics, Marboe used her art to create dialogues with the past, notably through projects that responded to 19th-century painting and museum collections.

Visual voice

Marboe’s work is characterized by a research-heavy exploration of ceramics and installation, utilizing earth-based materials like soil to connect with specific locales. Her aesthetic focuses on the interplay between archival narratives and the tactile reality of clay, often centering on themes of absence and historical recovery.
Archive-Based ResearchSite-Specific CeramicsHistorical NarrativesEarth MaterialsInvestigative Installation

Good to Know

What defines Kari Marboe’s artistic process?

Marboe utilized a "detective" approach, combining deep archival research with ceramic making to explore historical narratives.

What materials did she commonly use in her work?

Her practice primarily featured ceramics and site-specific materials, including soil collected from the locations she researched.

How did her work engage with art history?

She often placed her work in dialogue with historical figures, such as her 2021 exhibition responding to 19th-century painter William Keith.

What themes are central to her collection?

Her work focused on the narratives of people, specific places, and the mystery of missing objects.

What was Marboe's role in the arts community?

She was an Assistant Professor at California College of the Arts and was elected to the International Academy of Ceramics in 2021.

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