Katarina Tifft’s sculptural work is a contemporary take on traditional seashell crafts.
Company/studio: Katarina Tifft Art, which started in 2022, is based in Gainesville, FL. The artist, who started working with shells in 2020 during the pandemic, has a dedicated home studio.
Artist: Born in Slovakia (the former Czechoslovakia) she grew up in the countryside in a family of Hungarian descent.
In 2004, she graduated from the Industrial School of Civil Engineering in Hurbanovo, Slovakia, specializing in water management. But she never worked in the field. As soon as Tifft graduated she left her country to work and travel during most of her 20s.
Her adventure seeking brought her to the United States. She applied for the H2B visa program and ended up working at a golf and country club in Palm Beach.
In the beginning: During an involuntary sabbatical brought on by the pandemic-related delays in the immigration process, Tifft wanted to keep busy and to do something creative. Without any formal art training and living in Florida, she began experimenting with seashells.
Art & materials: Minimalistic yet detailed seashell artworks for the wall called SHELLSCAPES™.
Source of shells: While Tifft loves collecting shells on Florida shores, she purchases shells for her art from a trusted local supplier.
The seashells come from exotic locations where they are abundant. She only uses the most common seashells and never endangered or protected species.
Tifft stores the shells in a “shell cupboard” located in her home studio.
What’s popular: Floral pieces (6-inch by 6-inch from $350 and 36-inch by 36-inch from $3,000).
Favorite tool(s): Her hands. “I wish I had two extra.”
Inspirations/influences:
- Organic, textured patterns found in nature and floral works.
- Coastal living
- Clean aesthetics in interior design.
- Symmetry and repetition.
- Artists, such as Heather Knight at Element Clay Studio in Savannah, GA, Trudy Lynn Elliott and the late UK Fenella Elms.
Special and unusual commission: A recent bespoke fireplace (image at bottom). The client asked to incorporate:
- Butterflies to symbolize the number of her kids and grandkids,
- A sunflower: her late sister’s favorite flower.
- Shells she collected with her late sister.
“It was a creative challenge and not my usual style of work,” said Tifft. “It was a great experience, and the client was very happy.”
Recent honor/installation: A large-scale commission curated by Saatchi Art Advisory Services for The Boca Raton Club resort in south Florida.
Recent project: Just finished six artworks that will be installed on a cruise ship this fall.
Where to buy: katarinatifft.com. Also commissions.
Get social:
- Instagram: @KatarinaTifft
- Facebook: KatarinaTifft Art
