Lisa Sandner

Multimedia sculptor

A heartfelt ode to a sincere craft

Lisa honours the spirit of anonymous folk art
Her work often begins with a deep connection to a found object
She creates ceramic pieces and textiles that tell stories

Lisa Sandner creates decorative plates and vessels using different materials, such as clay, fabric and paper. She is drawn to anonymous folk art and to objects shaped by time, care and devotion. "I discover many of these pieces during my travels, in flea markets or by chance. These humble finds become seeds of inspiration for my own work in clay, fabric or paper," Lisa says. Her hand-painted decorative ceramic pieces, which are often created for the table or to hold flowers, are especially valued for their poetic quality. Trained in art history at La Sorbonne, Lisa combines academic depth with an earnest making practice. While grounded in decorative tradition, her work reaches beyond this and tells stories that resonate with everyone. In winter, Lisa's focus shifts to textiles, where she continues this narrative approach in a softer medium. Her studio, Kabinett Lisa Sandner, takes its name from the historic cabinets of curiosities, in which handmade wonders could be studied, honoured and quietly held in awe.

Interview

How did your childhood shape your approach to making?: I grew up in various regions in Africa, where my father worked as a civil engineer. The constant change and limited resources taught me to create with openness, resilience and resourcefulness. My background still guides me when I create new pieces or explore new materials.
How does your research influence your creative process?: Research is my way of getting closer to the soul of the object. I do not just look, I dig deep: Who might have made it? With what tools? What challenges did they face? I try to recreate some techniques to truly understand the piece, and only then can I respond using my own hands.
What draws you to folk art?: I am drawn to the sincerity. Folk art is often made without the intention of fame. Some works do not even carry a name. Still, the attention to detail, the care and the time spent in making all speak of a love for creating. I feel a deep responsibility to honour that.
Do you reflect this care in your own work?: Absolutely. If I cannot be fully present and connected to what I am making, I stop. That energy matters. Interestingly, many collectors say they felt that presence in the pieces. It is something beyond the visual – something almost impossible to capture in a photo.

Lisa Sandner is a rising star: she began her career in 2020