Central West End Association President Kate Walter’s artistic side (as seen in CWEA Griffin)

For the inaugural edition of CWEA Griffin (see more here), I introduced the artistic side of Kate Walter, whom many of you know as president of the Central West End Association (a partner in this new quarterly publication), but may not know that she also paints delicate designs on ceramics.

It was in 2016, while attending an opening at Houska Gallery, that I first learned that Kate is an accomplished ceramicist. She was the featured artist at that opening, see above, and as she said when I contacted her for this article, “I had an absolute ball that night, and would be thrilled to have another exhibit someday.”

Kate discovered she loved working with clay while in high school. Years later, she joined her cousin Kate Dunn, and George Hellmuth in the creation of Hellmuth Dunn and Company, a dinnerware and gift business that was located at The City Museum. “I made the canvas for Kate (Dunn’s) beautiful painting,” she added.

When that business closed, Kate Walter continued her own business painting ceramics (examples shown in photographs above and below). When asked how the pandemic has affected her art, she said: “When galleries and stores shut down, consignments and special orders actually increased.  Filling special orders keeps me inspired and busy, as no two pieces are alike.”

She continued, “I work at home in front of a very large south-facing window at a counter in my kitchen. With perfect light, my dog at my feet, and music playing in the background, it’s a blessing to paint something for a family that I know and love, or a client who is attracted to my work. To think that my work is in their home is really very special. Just this, in and of itself, has helped me get through the pandemic.”

Kate’s work can be found at The NookSTL in Ladue, a non-profit benefitting St. Louis Children’s Hospital, or on Facebook (KHDesigns).