Karen Swami

Ceramicist

©Lorenzo Valentin

©Vincent Thibert

©Vincent Gouriou

©Mathieu Lombard

Myriad variations on the vase

Karen came to ceramics as her second career in 2010
Wheel-throwing and glazes are her signature techniques
She likes to explore the infinite variations she can make to a similar object, the pot

A pottery enthusiast since the age of five, Karen Swami embarked on a winding journey before becoming the celebrated ceramicist she is today. A business graduate, Karen worked in finance and real estate, then turned to film production. In 2010, after a very demanding film project, she felt the urge to turn to clay for comfort. Karen took up studies in ceramics, obtained her diploma, and installed a potter’s wheel at her office. Two years later, she closed her production company and launched her ceramics atelier. Ever since then, Karen has been working on her creations as well as teaching her craft to others. Her works look both primal and sophisticated. "Pots are my favourite," she says. “They are universal and timeless. I am fascinated by their being imbued with age-old tradition as well as open to contemporary interpretation.”

Interview

©Vincent Gouriou

©Vincent Gouriou

What techniques do you use?: Besides wheel throwing, which is a form of meditation to me, I love to experiment and combine different techniques. For example, I use urushi, a Japanese natural lacquer used for kintsugi, to enamel whole objects. Urushi is thinner than glaze, and as such it brings out the rough texture of clay, creating beautiful and interesting contrasts.
How would you describe your style?: It is a balance between simplicity and depth, with a focus on materials and details. I do not aim to impress with extravagant forms. On the contrary, I like to work with essential forms, concentrating on the infinite nuances that I can develop with shaping, firing and glazing.
What role does colour play in your creations?: Colour dialogues with matter in my pieces. It is a means to express myself and a link to the natural world. The walls of my atelier are covered with colour samples. I would add that attentive study is not enough, and that a bit of randomness must be involved, too. Happy accidents are precisely what makes colour in ceramics so rich.
Where does your inspiration come from?: It comes from a mixture of sources. Ancient and modern art, travel souvenirs, cultural and personal stimuli. The vast and ancient tradition of pottery, ranging from Etruscan vases to Korean celadons is also part of it. Nature plays a central role, fuelling my creativity with all the textures, colours and contrasts I observe around me.

Karen Swami is a master artisan: she began her career in 2010 and she started teaching in 2010