Denim Tortousa Candelabra, 2021 by Ghastly Studios

GHaSTLY STUDIoS

The products for Ghastly Studios are created by Katherine Rutecki and Katrina Kerr

Auckland base artists 

Designer-maker duo Ghastly Studios is the formation of American sculptor Katherine Rutecki and New Zealand designer Katrina Kerr. Rutecki holds a BFA in Sculpture from New York College of Ceramics at Alfred University and a MFA in Glass from Southern Illinois University, Rutecki's work is held in public collections internationally including the Ebeltoft Museum, Denmark and the New Orleans Museum of Art, USA. Katrina Kerr has a B.Des in Interior Design from UNITEC, Auckland. With a fascination in the history of architecture and objects, she now works in the field of antiques and antiquity, which informs her collaborative work for Ghastly and solo ceramic practice. Ghastly has been working since 2018 on both material research and in the development of our candelabra forms. Ghastly works are included in private collections in both New Zealand and Australia. 

//Work Description

SCAGLIOLA CANDELABRA

The forms of our Ghastly candelabras harken ancient Roman architecture and are rooted in the dense contorted branches of the Puriri tree, endemic to the shores of Aotearoa. A metaphorical foil between longevity and delicacy, stoicism and hedonism.

Ghastly Studios has adapted the technique of traditional Scagliola architectural column building to the free-formed construction of our hand-carved and polished candelabras. Rather than the replication of natural marble, Ghastly is concerned with the playfulness of the material, mimicking the brush strokes of a painter or taking inspiration from Muranese glass murrini pattern work. We take care with the traditional materials used in scagliola -plaster, animal skin glue, mineral pigment, linseed oil, and beeswax, and apply them in new and evocative ways. 

Ghastly scagliola candelabras have been finished with a signature ‘votive eye’ wax seal maker's mark since 2022.

To care for, buff with a soft clean cloth. 

For safety reasons, it is important to refrain from leaving candles unattended.