Ceramic

Ceramics is a fine art discipline that involves shaping and transforming clay through processes of molding, glazing, and firing. Rooted in ancient craft traditions, ceramics has evolved from a functional practice into a major artistic medium. Artists use different types of clay, such as earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain, to model, build, or cast forms.

The process of making ceramics typically begins with shaping the clay by hand, on a potter’s wheel, or using molds. Once formed, the clay object is left to dry before undergoing its first firing, known as bisque firing, which hardens the surface and prepares it for glazing. Glazes, composed of minerals and pigments, are then applied to create color, texture, and sheen. A second firing vitrifies the clay and glaze, completing the transformation from earth to art. Each stage has effect on the final artwork as the material responds to touch, temperature, and time.

Ceramics is one of the oldest artistic forms: From ancient Greek amphorae to East Asian porcelain and Indigenous pottery, ceramic objects have long reflected both practical use and symbolic meaning. In the 20th century, artists helped redefine ceramics as a medium for fine art, emphasizing its sculptural and expressive qualities. Today, contemporary artists continue to expand the possibilities of clay. In her ceramic sculptures, Berlin-based artist Aline Schwörer scrutinises the interaction between humans, the environment and time.

Modern ceramic practice embraces a broad spectrum of approaches, from traditional vessel-making to conceptual and installation-based works. Artists often combine ceramics with materials such as metal, wood, or glass, creating hybrid forms that challenge the boundary between craft and sculpture. Technological innovations like digital modeling and 3D printing have further expanded what is possible with clay.

While ceramics and printmaking techniques, such as woodcut or lithography, differ in material and technique, they share a common spirit of repetition and transformation. Both involve working in series or editions, where each outcome reflects subtle variations in process, surface, and color.