• Ingrīda works with fire to achieve organic patterns of colour
• She leads masterclasses that help connect people with nature through clay
• Throwing on the wheel is a form of meditation for her

Ingrīda Žagata discovered her talent at the age of 12 during school ceramics classes, captivated by the rhythmic motion of the potter’s wheel. Encouraged by her teacher, she pursued formal studies at art school. Later, Ingrīda undertook a month-long apprenticeship with master Jūlijs Bogdans, and was drawn to traditional wood-fired kilns. She established Cepļi in 1985, a studio and sanctuary near the Baltic Sea where raw earth turns into vessels that celebrate nature’s unpolished beauty. Her mastery of ancestral black ceramics evolved further in 2000, after a pivotal journey to Japan inspired her to build an anagama kiln. "Smoke and flame dictate the soul of each piece, replacing glazes with deep, organic textures," Ingrīda says.