In 1984 Katherina was invited to participate in the Grolla d’Oro Competition at Treviso, in the Italian state of Veneto. As can be seen in the images her submission comprised one graphic and one sculpture. The graphic won First Prize in the Graphics division, while the sculpture won First Prize in its category.

Fortuitously, one of the judges at Treviso was the great Maltese scholar of the Renaissance, Father Marius Zerafa. Father Marius was at that time Director of Museums for the Government of Malta, and, taken with her work, invited Katherina to stage a solo exhibition at the National Museum in Valletta.