Ceramic Arts: Specialization: Traditional Techniques

Lilly Maetzig is a ceramist from New Zealand who is based in London. After experimenting with clay in art school, Lilly decided to further her pottery skills with classes and has been sculpting ever since.

Lilly founded her own ceramics brand Mäe Ceramics in 2016. Her work explores the contrast between the texture of raw and glazed clay to expose the natural qualities of her finished objects. She sells her objects through retail and wholesale channels, with most of her customers finding her through Instagram where her work is appreciated by over 45K followers. Her clients include restaurants and cafés around the globe, design shops like Yonobi Studio in Copenhagen, and events like Google Playtime.

Clara Graziolino is a contemporary history graduate from Turin University, with a degree from the Art and Restoration Institute in Florence, Italy. She began her career by restoring Etruscan ceramics for an archaeological museum in Pisa and Roman sculptures for the Uffizi Museum in Florence.

In 2003, she moved to Madrid to deepen her knowledge of ceramic sculptures. She eventually started making her own sculpture artwork, and in 2016 she was awarded first prize at Magrama International Ceramics contest. Alongside a Japanese restoration teacher, she learned the traditional techniques of kintsugi and has since collaborated in advertisements and events with brands such as Shiseido and Acciona. She currently works with international galleries and interior designers creating sculptures, murals, and installations.

Hessa Al Ajmani is a visual artist and ceramicist based in Ajman. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual arts and a minor in applied psychology from Zayed University. Her practice as an artist is heavily influenced by curiosity of human psychology and observation of the natural world. She has collaborated with brands like Audemars Piguet, Valentino, and Mille, and has been featured in Vogue Arabia and Marie Claire Arabia

In 2019, Hessa founded Clay Corner Studio, the first public arts studio in Ajman dedicated to ceramics and painting, where she currently teaches regular ceramics classes. Her work has been exhibited in a number of exhibitions, including Emirates Fine Arts Society’s Annual Exhibition. Hessa was twice a runner-up for ADMAF’s Creativity Award (2015-2016), and the first place winner of CDA’s Human Rights Short Film Competition (2014).

Nastia Calaca is a ceramic artist from Ukraine who currently lives and works in the Netherlands. Since childhood, she dreamed of becoming an illustration artist and went on to discover what has become a lifelong love for ceramics during a school trip to the Czech Republic. After completing a degree in ceramics at the Kyiv State Institute of Decorative and Applied Art and Design, Nastia started teaching workshops for beginners in her studio.

In 2016 Nastia founded Calaca Ceramic Art; an online store selling ceramic characters and figurines inspired by the world around her. Every piece is handmade and Nastia sells her custom orders to people all over the world. She also shares her work with over 70K followers on Instagram.

Jeremy Bellina is a French Potter based in Berlin. Before investing himself full-time in ceramics, he had a 9 to 5 job that he grew tired of. Pottery helped him get in touch with his creative instincts and find fulfillment in his career. He has designed a range of ceramic items for brands such as Plant Circle, Up and Coming, Cafe 21 Gramm and Lode, and Stijn. His artwork has also been exhibited at Vessels Berlin and Sculptural Connections.

Sarah Pike is a full-time potter based in British Columbia. After studying ceramics at the Alberta University of the Arts, the University of Colorado, and the University of Minnesota, she built her own home studio and began commercializing her work via ceramics galleries and shops. She gradually transitioned to online sales, gaining a large following on Instagram with slab-built, artistically textured pieces that fuse functionality and aesthetics.

Sarah has seen her pieces featured in publications such as Pottery Making Illustrated, La Revue de la céramique et du verre, Forge & Carve, and Ceramics: Creative Adventures in Clay. She also connects with her community by teaching workshops and speaking at conferences.