ARTIST PROFILE

Karin Lettau is the potter, artist and proprietor of Jade Tree Pottery.

I am a world citizen, half German, bilingual, and grew up in Berlin. I studied Chinese language and literature in an earlier chapter of my life, and earned a BA at UCSD in Chinese Studies & Teaching. I lived, studied and worked in Hong Kong for over a year. I was given a Chinese name “Li Jia-ling”, last name being Li which is the character that I use to sign all of my pieces. (Turned sideways it looks like a K.) “Li” actually means plum tree and “Jia”means touch of Jade. This is why I shortened my preferred business name from Plum Jade Tree to Jade Tree pottery. All of my inspiration comes from nature. The reason I studied Chinese was to be able to read the Chinese landscape poetry I loved in the original language.