Thomais Kontou

Porcelain maker

Enchanted by porcelain

Kontou has been working with porcelain since 1988
She learned her craft working with master ceramicists in Athens
The first items she created were utilitarian objects

Ceramicist Thomais Kontou has always loved creating objects with her own hands. “As a child, I used to make constructions using stones, wood, soil and textiles. Activities such as painting, sewing, embroidery, knitting and cooking made me happy.” At the same time as pursuing her studies in Graphic Arts, she painted ceramics in ceramic workshops across Athens. In one of them, Kontou saw the owner Stelios Laskaris using the wheel; instantly enchanted, she decided to dedicate herself to this craft. As an artist, she is self-taught. Kontou developed her style after attending seminars, experimenting endlessly, discussing with colleagues about work experiences and visiting museum exhibitions while travelling around the world.

Interview

What do you love most about your craft?: This craft fulfils some of my deeper needs. I love the fact that I start working with clay and in the end, I create an entirely handmade object on my own. I enjoy the ideation, imagination and knowledge needed as a ceramicist.
What suprises people about being a ceramicist?: People are usually unaware of how difficult and time consuming this craft is. Especially when it comes to porcelain, it’s a very demanding material which requires precision in all the phases of an object’s production.
Could your craft be considered in danger?: I believe that this ancient art is not going to disappear. There will always be people who want to work with these primitive materials and there will always be people interested in acquiring handmade ceramics.
What is your advice to an aspiring ceramicist?: I would tell them to make sure they love this art, to acquire as much knowledge as possible and always keep learning. It’s important to have perseverance and also to create a personal style that will make their work stand out.

Thomais Kontou is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1975