Classical ceramics made by experimental methods
- Magdalena is a self-taught ceramicist
- She specialises in artistic clay work inspired by historical functional artifacts
- She combines traditional, pre-industrial firing methods with her own experimental techniques
A love for handcrafting led Magdalena Kopiczko into the world of professional ceramics. She started working with clay as a hobby and devoted every free moment to this passion, attending courses, training under masters of the craft, and learning to use the potter's wheel. Her dedication resulted in her opening her first workshop in the early 2000s. "As a self-taught artisan, I feel the need to study every aspect of the craft to keep learning and growing," she explains. Magdalena has developed her practice around pre-industrial and alternative firing techniques, including raku and saggar. "My ceramic skills are primarily rooted in traditional folk techniques," she says. She also uses a traditional method of firing unglazed grey pottery in a wood kiln.
Interview
- What are your main sources of inspiration?
- I admire old pottery, especially thin-walled pottery from the Neolithic period and the harmonious, classically proportioned pottery of the Bronze Age. My admiration for these objects is even greater considering that people at that time only had simple tools and firing methods.
- What do you like most about working with ceramics?
- First, it is the agency. I am the author of my creations, and I am responsible for their execution from start to finish. Then, the independence. I operate on my own terms, working when an order is placed or when I have an idea, embracing challenges I consider realistic.
- How do you balance past and present in your works?
- Time-honoured techniques provide a solid foundation for my work and from this strong base, I can allow myself to experiment and modify. Innovation for me is using a traditional raw material and combining it with other materials in novel ways.
- What excites you about working with ceramics?
- Opening the kiln is always a fascinating experience. Ceramic raw materials, with their sandy texture and earthy colours, only reveal their final appearance through the firing process. I rely on my experience to carefully select raw materials and direct the firing, yet the final result always remains a surprise.
Magdalena Kopiczko is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2021
Where
Magdalena Kopiczko
