Clara Rêgo

Ceramicist

©Pais Agency

©Beth Freitas

Ceramics with a mythical dimension

Clara creates sculptural ceramic pieces as well as hand carved and hand painted tile murals
Her unique objects are representations of new mythical worlds and creative narratives
She infuses her positive energy in each piece she makes, trusting that this intention can resound beyond the workshop

After studying ceramics for four years, Clara Rêgo chose to broaden her horizons before pursuing her craft professionally. She studied comics and illustration and completed a BA in Fine Arts in the UK. Back in Portugal, she was ready to embrace her initial passion for ceramics. “When I was 11, I experienced a wonderful ceramics retreat with my dad and sister in France. I still keep pieces I made in my studio today.” Spiritually connected, Clara offers a mythical dimension to her work. Using mostly coiling, hand sculpting and carving techniques, her objects are also amulets and energy totems with protective powers. Her large-scale tile murals are also a perfect medium to tell her stories. “Through objects and tiles, I explore imaginary narratives and myths,” explains Clara. Her pieces are reflections of her rich academic journey and experiences.

Interview

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©Visit Porto

Has there been a challenging piece you made in the past?: I was asked to make a 9m x 4m hand painted mural, tile by tile. As my studio is quite small, I had to paint it in 20 parts. The first time I saw it complete was when it was put on the wall. It was nerve wrecking but also a glorious feeling of accomplishment.
Where do you get inspiration for all the diverse pieces you make?: In terms of physical elements, I get inspiration from rock formations, minerals, fungi, algae, reefs, microscopic images and nature in general. Aside from this, my inspiration comes from dreams, mythology, feminism, poetry and music.
When did you decide to become a fully independent ceramicist?: Initially around 2017, when I was working for a tile painting company. I started investing in my own equipment, including a small kiln. I became independent in 2020 during the pandemic. I dived in, feeling it was what I should have been doing all along.
What messages do you wish for your pieces to transmit?: I believe that sometimes language is not enough to communicate and that there are messages that we are not able to form with words. These need to be said in other ways, and sometimes my pieces do just that.

Clara Rêgo is a master artisan: she began her career in 2015 and she started teaching in 2017