Martha Botelle | Also Known As: Martha L. Botelle

Martha Botelle is known for slab built, wheel thrown and slip cast porcelain figurines and dining table decorative wares. Botelle’s decorative techniques include China Painting, ceramic pencil transfers and direct drawing, in-painting and gilding. Influenced by 18th century Meissen banquet center piece displays and the work of Edward Eberly and Kurt Weiser. Botelle's work emphasizes both sculpture and decoration are emphasized.

During Botelle’s undergraduate studied of European history she was introduced to history of 18th century dining and table decoration. In 1974 during an introductory porcelain workshop she was introduced to the various techniques of forming ceramic objects including slip casting.  It was this experience which led her to Arizona State University and an undergraduate and graduate degree in ceramics with Kurt Weiser. In 1997 Botelle moved to Toronto, Canada to work as Assistant Registrar at the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Toronto, Canada where she worked with and studied its extensive collection of Meissen and other 18th century ceramics. In 2003 Botelle began a two year research fellowship at the Meissen Porzellan-Stiftung GmbH, Meissen, Germany. Returning to the USA, she established Yellow Barn Studio where she began producing unique porcelain table displays. Like those of the 18th century, Botelle’s tableaus often included satiric references to contemporary political or culturally known individuals.