Custom ceramic tile, made by hand in Connecticut
Inspired by place, history and our stories. Together, we create something personal, enduring and entirely your own.
Our studio
KV Tiles is the studio practice of Katherine Verdickt, a Connecticut-based artist who creates custom ceramic tile installations for residential and commercial spaces. Her work sits at the intersection of painting, sculpture, and historic craft, producing handmade ceramic tile that is designed for a specific place and no other.
Every commission begins with understanding
VISION
The process starts with a conversation between the artist and client, often alongside an interior designer, architect, or museum curator. Together, we consider the architecture, the people who will live with the work, and the stories that make each place unique.
Inspiration is drawn from many sources: A home's history, the surrounding landscape, regional flora, personal collections, or memories that deserve a lasting place within the architecture. No two commissions follow the same path.
Whether a single tile or an installation spanning an entire room, each piece is designed specifically for its setting. A fireplace surround may celebrate the native landscape. A kitchen backsplash may preserve a family's traditions. A staircase mural may quietly reflect the history of the building itself. Every commission is created to feel as though it has always belonged.
COMMISSIONS
Designed for generations
That process matters because it produces something a manufactured tile cannot replicate. Handmade ceramic tile carries subtle variation in surface, color, and texture. No two tiles come out of the kiln identical, and we consider that an essential characteristic of the work. Installed together, they create a surface that reads as alive, one that holds both the character of the clay and the mark of the artist’s hand.
These tiles are intended as permanent architectural fixtures, designed to be preserved for generations.
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Every tile is drawn, painted, and finished by hand in our Connecticut studio.
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Every commission reflects the people, places, and histories that make it unique.
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Each installation is designed specifically for the client, architecture, and setting.
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Inspired by centuries of decorative arts traditions and built to last for generations.
Rooted in the Delft tradition, open to many directions
HISTORY
The studio’s roots are in the Delft Tile tradition, one of the most recognized and enduring forms of hand-painted tile in Western decorative history. That foundation informs the technical approach, but the range of work has grown well beyond its inception. Current commissions include contemporary compositions, historically informed period designs, and Moorish-inspired geometric work. What stays consistent is the process: each tile is formed, glazed, painted, and fired by hand in the New England studio.
PROCESS
What handmade actually means
That process matters because it produces something a manufactured tile cannot replicate. Handmade ceramic tile carries subtle variation in surface, color, and texture. No two tiles come out of the kiln identical, and we consider that an essential characteristic of the work. Installed together, they create a surface that reads as alive, one that holds both the character of the clay and the mark of the artist’s hand.
These tiles are intended as permanent architectural fixtures, designed to be preserved for generations.
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Whether the project requires historic recreation, a custom architectural fit, or a specific surface quality, the materials themselves help determine the final aesthetic. We work with proprietary clay bodies, each chosen for a specific outcome: a crackle surface, an antique appearance, frost resistance for exterior use, or water-safe formulations for wet environments. From there, we present samples from our in-house glaze library: warm whites and cool whites alongside blues, greens, and browns, each formulated from historic recipes drawn from azulejo tradition and antique Dutch tilework. Color matching is also available. For custom installations, we work from architectural plans to produce tiles sized to the space. When historic accuracy is the priority, we use our standard 13cm format.
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As sketches are reviewed and approved, we prepare the clay. Slabs are formed by hand rolling or machine extruding, then left to dry to leather hard before being cut to size. Edges are smoothed by hand, and each tile is stamped with the studio’s maker’s mark before being stacked and weighted flat. After approximately one week, the tiles are fully dry and ready for the bisque firing.
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Glazing is done entirely by hand. We dip each tile in a unique batch of glaze. The artists paint each tile individually, following the approved prototype, and finally glaze fire to a minimum of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ceramics is an unpredictable medium. Clay can crack or warp; glaze can develop imperfections despite consistent conditions. We use modern tools, including a slab extruder, humidity gauge, and electric kiln, but machinery has no place in the cutting or painting. From start to finish, a single tile can take several hours to complete. When one comes out perfectly, it carries the full weight of that process.