Wavy movements
At The Ode To we are always curious to learn more about creativity and artistry, so we asked ceramic artist Astrid Öhman to tell us a little bit about her life, her art and the creative workshops her mother held for her growing up.
Astrid Öhman
Can you tell us about the series of artworks that you have created for The Ode To?
– I've named my series of artworks Psychedelic Forest, because placed in a group, my Vulcano Vases turn into a psychedelic forest. To create this series, I have experimented with form and colour to achieve the feeling of artifacts coming from another time or planet.
What technique have you used?
– I usually use two different techniques, coiling and slab construction.
What inspires you?
– I'm inspired by all kinds of things, art, nature, space, the occult. I'm also drawn to swirly and wavy shapes. Wave movements are everywhere; in the air, water, sound and light and I feel that our bodies have a connection to these shapes. When the clay meets my hands, it simply feels natural that it transforms into wavy shapes. I also love vivid colors and I want people to feel happy when they see my work. Finally, I adore artists that create worlds that you can visit.
How would you describe your art and aesthetics in three words?
"Organic, Playful, Colourful."
Can you tell us about your background and how you came to be an artist?
– My mother was an architect and a very creative person. She used to have playful workshops with me and my siblings after school. We got to build all kinds of things, and I believe that’s where my interest in creating things started. In 2014 I graduated from architecture school and worked as an architect in Stockholm. But as an architect, you sit a lot by the computer, and I longed to work more with my hands again. So, I took a course in ceramics and fell in love.
What is it about ceramics that you particularly love?
– I love how it’s a material that is very forgiving and very unpredictable. I appreciate that you can’t control the process fully—it has its own life. Every time I open the kiln to see how the glazes turned out it feels like Christmas. It’s truly a contrast to architecture where you plan everything in detail. Now I have my own studio and I work part time with ceramics and part time with architecture. I love it, it’s like I get the best things out of two worlds.
What we love about Astrid Öhman:
We simply adore how Astrid Öhman combines wavy shapes and the prettiest colour palette with a great eye for details, creating her very own, unique expression.
