Sofia Águas
Ceramicist
Lisboa, Portugal
When refuge reveals a ceramic vocation
- Sofia turned to clay to balance working in Santiago’s troubled neighbourhoods
- She developed her creative vocation while living in different countries
- Her sculptural objects celebrate clay through their raw yet refined textures
Sofia Águas, a researcher and professor at the Fine Arts University in Lisbon, discovered ceramics by chance when living in Santiago, Chile. “At the time, I was doing volunteer work in vulnerable neighbourhoods. I needed something calming and grounding to do with my hands,” she says. Sofia later lived in Northern Ireland and Wales, where she learned her craft from local ceramicists and developed a distinctive approach centred on the raw materiality of clay, minimal surface treatment and natural tones. Following her participation in Ceramic Art London, she became increasingly committed to developing her ceramic practice alongside her academic work. Today, Sofia's studio practice and research intersect through a shared interest in ceramics, tacticality, material processes and design knowledge.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
My pieces are entirely hand built, but I often work with the precision of a millimetre. I bring a sense of rigour usually associated with industrial processes into a craft that is inherently imperfect.
I primarily work with slab and coil construction, which enable me to explore form intuitively. I also experiment with burnishing, layered textures and subtle pigments to add depth while preserving the material’s purity.
I worked in shared workshops when I lived abroad. I really enjoyed the collective environment, where sharing through practice, research and cultural exchange opens new doors for reflection. I chose to seek out the same experience upon my return to Lisbon.
I value the intimate dialogue with clay and how it offers a balance between control and unpredictability. The material requires patience, presence and acceptance. I also love the emotional dimension of creating objects that resonate with people, bringing calm, curiosity or simply a sense of connection.
