Sylvia Ludwig

Porcelain maker

The harmony between contrasts

Sylvia focuses making on hand-thrown porcelain vessels
She developed her own cellulose-porcelain formula to repurpose waste porcelain
Her artworks thrive on the contrast of textures and tones displayed in the same piece

Raised in Schwerin in a family of musicians, Sylvia Ludwig developed a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and aesthetics from a young age. She grew up in a region with a rich ceramics tradition, and pursued formal training after school. "I was drawn to ceramics and their potential to shape form and harmony," Sylvia explains. Entirely by chance, she encountered porcelain during a wood firing workshop in a fellow ceramicist’s studio. Captivated by its delicate strength, she knew instantly she wanted to master it and relearned the wheel entirely to meet its demands. To make her process more sustainable, Sylvia developed a method to recycle unfired porcelain by adding cellulose, creating a uniquely dark and versatile material. Balancing the contrasts she sees in life, Sylvia brings light and shadow, smooth and textured surfaces into dialogue, shaping them into harmonious porcelain forms.

Interview

What do you find most compelling about porcelain as a material?: Porcelain has a sense of presence. It may appear fragile, but when formed with care, it holds its own in any space. I love creating pieces that invite both visual and tactile engagement.
What motivated you to create the cellulose-porcelain formula?: I wanted to find a way to reuse dried, unfired porcelain. By adding cellulose, the material became soft and flexible again, allowing me to throw it on the wheel once more. The process naturally altered the colour, so I decided to fully embrace it and dye the porcelain completely black, turning it into a distinctive feature of my work.
Do you see your pieces as functional or sculptural?: Both. I love the clarity of functional design, but I also push my pieces beyond utility. A cup can be a sculpture, a bowl an abstract form. I work at the edge of functionality, where an object is both useful and expressive.
What drives you in your artistic journey?: The material itself is my greatest motivation. Porcelain challenges me, teaches me patience, and forces me to refine my process. With Cellulose Porcelain, I have unlocked new possibilities, and that constant evolution is what drives me forward.

Sylvia Ludwig is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2007