Isabel Lejonbäck
At The Ode To we are always curious to learn more about creativity and artistry, so we asked Isabel Lejonbäck to tell us a little bit about her life, her art and her sources of inspiration.
What do you call your series of artworks?
– The artworks for The Ode To is a small collection of one-of-a-kind stoneware ceramic sculptures (that also function as vases). I call the collection 'Bursting Buds', referring to the fragile and tentative first stages in early blossoming.
What technique have you used?
– All my work is made by hand. For these sculptures I have used a traditional coiling method to be able to obtain the irregular shape of the bursting bud.
What inspired you to create the artworks you have made for The Ode To?
– My passion for clay is founded in the lengthy and fragile manufacturing process – the one that begins with the endless possibilities of raw clay, going through two firings in over thousand degrees, finally ending up being immortalized in a permanent form.
These sculptures came to life as a result of me trying to let go of performance requirements and just let my hands work in symbiosis with the clay. It’s how my finest work normally is created; my mind can rest and yet at the same time be the most creative. It’s a contradictory and wonderful way of working.
What other artists do you admire?
– I admire the Swedish multi-artist Birgitta Watz because of her natural and unpretentious attitude towards her own artistry. And for the way she lets the clay be the lead in the creative process.
Can you tell us about your background and how you came to be an artist?
– I have always been drawn to the creative world. In 2016 I really lost myself to ceramics. I had just moved to a new town and felt lost and restless. I found a tiny pottery led by a fantastic elderly woman named Barbro where I started to spend my evenings. Then and there I had no plan, but working with the clay made me feel grounded and I instantly knew that I had found something precious. Ceramics really is a combination of challenge and reward – and I think that’s why I continue to treasure the craft and stay curious.
How would you describe your art and aesthetics in three words?
– Timeless. Minimalistic yet expressive.
What we love about Isabel Lejonbäck:
We love Isabel Lejonbäcks simple organic shapes with inspirations from the process of blossoming and the creation of new life.
