Manos Kalamenios

Madebymanos

Ceramicist

©Ekaterina Mamontova Garbauske

©Manos Kalamenios

Creating ceramic jewels

Manos' approach to ceramics is very experimental
When he opens the kiln, it feels like Christmas
He uses culinary approaches, tools and sometimes materials

At the age of 29, following 14 years working as a chef, Manos Kalamenios left London and enrolled in a course at the University College Isle of Man, for Art & Design. “Once I arrived in the ceramics room I was hooked,” Kalamenios says. After graduating with a Masters in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art in London, Kalamenios started his workshop in the summer of 2016. Being creative and crafting with his hands has come naturally to him since he was a child. In his own words: “My love and respect for the material took me to where I am now”. Collectors of his objects describe them as “Ceramic jewels you can’t wear, understated and timeless pieces of magic that you love to look at every day.”

Interview

©Manos Kalamenios

©Manos Kalamenios

How do you play with tradition and innovation?: The slip casting is a traditional method which goes back to ancient Greece. Even though I use a manufacturing technique (slip casting), my approach, techniques and treatment of the material lead me to innovative outcomes where two pieces are never the same.
What does well made mean to you?: When you create from the heart and with attention to detail. Modern Greeks often use the word meraki to describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love -- when you put "something of yourself" into what you're doing.
How is your craft linked to your location?: My studio is located by the River Thames in a very old industrial area with centuries of history. It is my sanctuary. Once I start walking by the quiet river and enter my studio, the still and calmness of the water follows me in. I guess this calmness reflects in my work.
Is there a moment in your professional life that stands out?: The best moment is the written messages and feedback I receive from clients. It makes me want to carry on creating, knowing that my pieces are with someone who appreciates and cherishes my work. And mostly knowing that I made a difference, even for a moment, in someone’s life.

Manos Kalamenios is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2008 and he started teaching in 2019