Kate Krause Diamant: Her Sculptures Bring Smiles
by: Karen L McCarty
Kate Krause Diamant grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her father was an electrical engineer, and her mother was a homemaker. She describes being raised in a rather isolated community with a conservative influence, although she fondly recalls her mother as someone who “painted outside the lines.”
As a young woman, Kate attended Kutztown State Teacher’s College. After graduating, she moved to South Carolina, living first in Anderson and then Greenville. She taught art in local schools, instructing students from kindergarten through high school.
On a personal level, already drawn to the arts, Kate enjoyed creating fiber-based projects. Her artistic path took a new turn when her husband introduced her to a friend who worked with clay. She was immediately captivated by the three-dimensional nature of the medium. Soon after, she purchased a used potter’s wheel. With small children at home, this became a creative outlet she could pursue right there in her own space.
And so began her remarkable journey sculpting whimsical clay characters.
Kate describes clay sculpture as an escape—a way to bring the images in her mind’s eye into reality. She shared that sculpting places her in her personal comfort zone, explaining, “You are in command of your environment.” In that quiet, focused space, she finds both peace and control.
The confidence she demonstrates in her work is matched only by her talent. As the author of this article, I found myself deeply inspired by my conversation with Kate.
Kate delights in the spontaneity of the figure. “It’s an exercise,” she says. After more than thirty years working in art, she continues to grow, learn, and refine her craft. “It’s all about experimentation.”
She often begins with an idea—sometimes ethereal, sometimes delightfully whimsical—like a sheep sculpted as a bank. Her pieces may be inspired by a simple gesture or a personality trait. As she works, the sculpture evolves naturally into its final form, each character emerging with its own unique personality.
Visitors to the White Rabbit Fine Art Gallery can’t help but smile as they encounter her work. That joy is exactly what Kate hopes to inspire—to invite viewers to discover a bit of silliness and delight in each piece.
You simply must come experience the work of Kate Krause Diamant at the White Rabbit Fine Art Gallery in Travelers Rest. My personal favorite—and one I understand is Kate’s as well—is her charming mug featuring a rabbit, inspired by the Year of the Rabbit.
Kate’s work can also be found in several South Carolina galleries, including the SC Art Center in Walterboro, Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan’s Island, One of a Kind in Charleston, and Gallery One in Greenville. You can follow her on Facebook, where she shares glimpses of her creative process.
Thank you, Kate, for creating your wonderful world of sculpture.