Sebastian Scheid

Ceramicist

©Peter Kristen

©Sebastian Scheid

A free spirit

Sebastian took over his parents' workshop
Beating clay with a structured batten is his signature technique
He recommends learning from a variety of master craftspeople

Sebastian Scheid’s ceramic style matches old conventions with craftmanship and freedom. It all started with his parents turning the family farmhouse into a pottery workshop. As an adolescent, Sebastian began to travel the world, studying different styles. He acquired traditional skills working in English workshops, explored his more artistic side during an internship in the United States, and honed his craft skills by spending time in Japan. “These stays, away from the daily operations at home, gave me the courage to be free when engaging with the material,” Scheid says. “My approach to objects is that of a sculptor rather than a potter.” His works show their materiality and feature rough surfaces with precise processing details, like the beats made with a structured batten.

Interview

©Peter Kristen

©Peter Kristen

Why did you choose this craft?: I grew up in a potter’s household. Both my parents worked with clay, and I started on the wheel from an early age. For a short while, I considered making a living as a car mechanic. But at the age of 16, I finally decided to become a ceramic artist.
What inspires your work?: Nature inspires me. In my work, the association with trees or tree bark is prominent. When random effects happen preparing a clay block, I later explore these ideas by looking for an ideal form for them.
What does “well made” mean to you?: An object is well made when it emanates vibrancy and charisma. Pure material and technical mastery don’t suffice; ceramic artwork requires a soul. If my vision doesn’t come true, I reprocess the clay, and the final moment of truth comes when I open the kiln door.
What’s your advice for young aspiring ceramicists?: I think varied experiences are essential, and I recommend everyone to spend time in as many different workshops as possible. Try working with various masters and ateliers as I did, because each workshop has its own peculiarities from which you can learn.

Sebastian Scheid is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1982