Oriel Zinaburg

Ceramicist

©Oriel Zinaburg

Dynamic energy frozen in clay

Oriel creates large-scale multitextured ceramic sculptures
He is a trained architect and studied fine art before delving into ceramics
His sources of inspiration include natural topography, geology and human physiology

Oriel Zinaburg picked up his craft in 2016. He mainly works with stoneware and porcelain and is inspired by landscapes and geological formations as well as art. "My sculptural artworks represent a moment frozen in time, still charged with the dynamism of its making but preserved forever,” he says. Characterised by bulges and textured surfaces, Oriel views his vessels as unruly objects that emerge through an intuitive process of hand-building, tearing, folding and distorting his materials. "I follow the process where it leads me, until I feel a sense of resolution," he continues. Oriel studied fine art at the Bezalel Academy for Fine Art & Design in Jerusalem. He then trained and worked as an architect before setting up his ceramic studio in London in 2019.

Interview

©Oriel Zinaburg

©Oriel Zinaburg

What drew your interest to your craft?: I discovered my craft by chance. I trained and worked as an architect for many years, until, in 2016, I took a one-week intensive course in mould making at Central Saint Martins. I fell in love with working with clay, and gradually took more and more courses.
How do tradition and innovation transpire in your craft?: They are both expressed in my work through the use of pressed moulds and the mixing of ceramic glazes. In terms of innovation, my ceramic vessels are based on three-dimensional images of my own head at three different periods of my life.
Could you describe your making process?: I mainly use press moulds techniques. I created three prototype moulds from plaster on the wheel, and I make clay slabs by pressing against the moulds using a roller machine. The various slabs are then pieced together in a collage-like method to build up the sculptural structure.
In what way is your craft linked to your country of origin?: My 2022 LOT collection was inspired by the landscapes and rock formations found in the Negev desert, in the southern part of my home country, Israel.

Oriel Zinaburg is a rising star he began his career in 2016