Kathleen Dautel
Raleigh, NC | Exhibiting Since 2022
Growing up in Oregon in a creative family, particularly with a father who was a print-maker, painter and art professor, I have always had artistic influences in my life. While studying Art History and Fine Arts at the University of Oregon, I took my first metalsmithing class in 1990 and loved it. After graduating in 1991, I returned to the U of O to receive a BFA in Metalsmithing in 1993. I moved to Portland in 1994 and the city, its buildings and environment inspired me to pursue architecture. I moved to Raleigh, NC to attend North Carolina State University’s Master of Architecture Program and graduated in 1999. Since graduating, I have had the opportunity to work as a project designer for a couple of great architecture firms in the area, winning several design awards for many of the projects, but my love for metalsmithing has always been in the back of my mind.
In the fall of 2009 I launched my own jewelry and metalsmithing line, Spark Metal Studio. Each design is original, laser cut stainless steel that is hand finished and hand colored with epoxy resin. The forms are both architecturally based and drawn from nature with a linear graphic quality. I currently live in Raleigh, NC with my husband Brian and son Ben, both of whom offer great support and a critical eye.