When clay hold its ground
- Lali's ceramics reflect current events
- Her practice involves sharing her knowledge with her students
- She has been a member of the International Academy of Ceramics since 2023
Lali Kutateladze creates ceramic vessels and sculptures with chamotte, engobe and lustre surfaces inspired by her Georgian culture. She studied at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts, and, inspired by her teacher Alde Kakabadze, she focuses on both technical skill and artistic self-discovery. During the difficult period Georgia was going through in the 1990s, Lali kept ceramics alive through collective work and exhibitions. In 2000, she co-founded The Clay Office, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Georgian ceramics locally and abroad. She has curated international symposia and exhibitions, while teaching and mentoring future generations of ceramicists. "Clay allows me to communicate my ideas and create artistic dialogues with others," Lali says.
Interview
- How has formal education shaped your practice?
- It is the foundation of my professional identity. The knowledge and skills I gained at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts shaped me as a ceramicist, designer and curator. It gave me the basis for growth and continuous development.
- What was your greatest challenge?
- The hardest period was the 1990s crisis, as there was a shortage in materials and many power cuts. Colleagues and I overcame this by sharing studios, supporting one another and organising joint exhibitions and sales to keep ceramics alive.
- What sparked the idea of establishing The Clay Office?
- I came up with the idea with a colleague, while working in a shared studio. We founded The Clay Office as a non-profit to promote Georgian ceramics at home and abroad. It grew into a platform for exhibitions, symposia and cross-cultural dialogue.
- Where do you find inspiration?
- Life itself motivates me. My work reflects current events, transformed through clay. This medium allows me to express ideas freely, communicate with society and create artistic dialogues that connect design, art and reflection.
Lali Kutateladze is a master artisan: she began her career in 1982 and she started teaching in 1990
Where
Lali Kutateladze
