06/07/2026
“I am drawn to bold colors combined with organic and whimsical shapes that feel alive, slightly off-balance, and in motion.”
Originally from Cologne, Germany, Petra Pingel is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative path began early, inspired by a family of makers that included a poet grandfather, a painter uncle, and an elementary school teacher who worked as an illustrator. After completing an apprenticeship in printing and typography, she earned a degree in graphic design from Kunstschule Alsterdamm in Hamburg and worked professionally as a graphic designer in Germany before moving to Charlotte in 1996.
In 2018, Petra discovered a passion for hand-glazed tile art, a medium that combines her design background with her love of color, texture, and experimentation. Through her work, she simplifies forms into bold, graphic shapes while incorporating organic lines, patterns, and movement. Because glazes shift, blend, and transform during the firing process, each finished piece contains an element of surprise that cannot be fully controlled.
Petra's work ranges from intimate single-tile pieces to larger multi-tile compositions. Each tile is hand-painted with ceramic glazes and kiln-fired to cone 05, creating a durable surface that is both heat- and weather-resistant. Her tiles can be displayed as decorative objects, installed as functional wall pieces or backsplashes, or framed and presented as artwork.
Two Emerging Artist grants from the Arts & Science Council Charlotte in 2022 and 2024 helped Petra purchase her own kiln and transform a room in her home into “The Tiny Tile Studio,” where she continues to develop new work.
Petra's work can be seen at art shows throughout the Charlotte area and by appointment at The Tiny Tile Studio in Charlotte. Her work is also currently on display at the Cabarrus Art Guild’s 2026 Spring Show at ClearWater Arts Center & Studios from May 3 through June 20, 2026.
Learn more about Petra at www.petra4design.
