Elke Sada

Ceramicist

©Christoph Kremtz

©Florian Weber

©Anthony Girardi

©Florian Weber

Hooked on ceramics

Elke interprets the ceramic vessel in a bold, colourful manner
She is also a painter, and incorporates painting in her work
She uses a special technique to construct her vessels

The story of Elke Sada is a reminder to pursue our interests, take risks and be patient in order to achieve greatness in what we do. “In 1991 I was working as a research technician in the US and signed up for a pottery course in my spare time out of curiosity. And that was it, I was hooked.” After another pottery course and an internship, almost ten years later she quit her career as a chemistry technician and started her professional education in the field of ceramics in the UK. Today her work is recognised and rewarded internationally for its combination of fragmented forms and painterly surface treatment.

Interview

What was the first object you created?: A cup that I designed and made during my first pottery course. I still use it today.
Do you have a special interest in surface treatment?: Yes, as I am also a passionate painter, I dedicate myself above all to surface design in order to combine ceramics and painting. So painting and strong colours are still the main characteristics of my ceramics today.
How did you develop your style?: Working with the potter's wheel opened a door to the world of ceramics. Then, after I discovered how to use printmaking in ceramics, I was able to integrate my painting into the surface treatment. Furthermore, I developed my own technique of constructing vessels from ceramic fragments.
Are you a traditionalist or an innovator?: Necessarily both. Through tradition I have the knowledge and skill to realise my own ideas. I love the new and adore the old.

Elke Sada is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2000