About
Karina Smagulova (b. 1995, Greece) is a contemporary ceramicist based in London. She constructs distinctive vessels that celebrate the characteristics of the female form by balancing asymmetrical curved shapes in a three-dimensional space. She utilises techniques, such as coiling, to explore the potential of the hand-built vessel and investigates how the material can stretch and deform.
Her ever-evolving visual vocabulary delves into the physicality of form across various scales and mediums. Working with clay in a variety of hand-building techniques, Smagulova’s work explores the transcendental definitions of the vessel and tells the story of female identity.
Working with clay allows her to freely explore different forms and concepts, guided by intuition and personal experiences. Previous exhibitions include Built at Maud & Mabel in 2024, Collect Art Fair at Somerset House in 2022, Arts & Crafts Fair at Isetan Mitsukoshi in Tokyo, ‘300 Objects’ during London Craft Week in 2020, and the group show ‘Being Human’ at Thrown Contemporary, among
others.
