Agathe Bailly

Ceramicist

©Khamkeo Vilaysing

Clay that holds light

Agathe integrates porcelain painting in her ceramic creations
She trained at the Penninghen school in Paris
Her lamps help create and shape ambiences in rooms

Using only her hands and utensils, Agathe Bailly crafts ceramic lamps, vases and candlesticks, each carrying a history of its own. "I learned my ceramics in an unusual sequence. My mother taught me how to paint on porcelain before I learned the methods of turning and modelling," she says. Agathe would buy plates from shops and practise painting them, until she earned her vocational diploma in ceramic turning and started making her own objects. Her inspirations come from nature’s patterns, shapes and colours, as well as artists such as Sonia Delaunay and Charlotte Perriand. Agathe later picked up ceramic lamp making, a challenge that requires different skills, including problem solving. "I am working on creating a ceramic stool, another ambitious and complex project that I find to be very rewarding," she explains.

Interview

©Khamkeo Vilaysing

©Khamkeo Vilaysing

What drew you from graphic design to ceramics?: After studying applied arts, I discovered porcelain painting as a new space for creative expression. Each piece became a blank canvas to fill with a pen, sponge or brush. This hands-on process led me to ceramics.
Where do you find your influences?: I draw from natural textures – bark, cracked earth and even molecules. Inspiration is everywhere. When turning and modelling, I preserve the natural colour of the clay, integrating porcelain painting to create a contrast that is both raw and delicate.
What does your making process look like?: I begin by sketching my idea to guide the process. For precise, technical drawings, I work in silence. Once the piece is drawn, I follow my instinct more freely, often with music or a podcast in the background.
Do you face any challenges working with light?: My goal in creating lamps is less about providing light and more about shaping a room's ambience. The challenge is finding shapes that diffuse light gently. Bulb choice is also key – a cool, white light creates a different atmosphere than a warm, sunny glow.

Agathe Bailly is a rising star: she began her career in 2017 and she started teaching in 2023