Tableware as a work of art
- Olga depicts regional Hutsul motifs in some of her pieces
- Her workshop name Yaglyna means 'I am clay'
- Her aim is to introduce beauty and art into everyday life
Ceramics have always captivated Olga Khasanshin-Samolyuk and today she could not envisage a life without clay. Born in Lviv, Olga studied the craft directly with the master artisans in Kosiv, where traditional ceramic production is inscribed in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. She also learned about the Hutsul tradition from a celebrated master of Hutsul ceramics, Ivanna Kozak-Dileta. Olga graduated from Kyiv Institute of Decorative and Applied Arts and in the early 2010s she founded her own workshop. She called it Yaglyna which translates as 'I am clay', reflecting her indivisible devotion to the craft. Her works use local materials and interpret traditional Ukrainian art in a modern way. The tableware Olga creates is minimalist yet peculiar, delicate yet built to last.
Interview
- Why have you chosen ceramics?
- Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming an artist. When I was preparing to enroll in art school, I fell in love with sculpture classes and liked working with clay the most. It was an intuitive choice. It seems that ceramics chose me, too.
- How would you define what you do?
- I create shapes by hand from clay, water, and fire and restore traditional pottery techniques. The ceramic objects I make are unique, and everything is created in a limited edition or single copy. A distinctive author's touch can be seen in each product.
- How did you start your own ceramics workshop?
- From the first days of my acquaintance with clay, I passionately sought to improve my skills. My work and clay have become integral components of my life, and this process has led me to set up a workshop and business that I am proud of and live by.
- What motivates you to create?
- The purpose of my work is to give people a piece of beauty, to add aesthetics to the objects that surround us every day, and to fill the space with comfort and meaning. I am also inspired by the work process itself, travelling, my family, and speaking with clients.
Olga Khasanshin is a master artisan: she began her career in 2008 and she started teaching in 2015
Where
Olga Khasanshin
