Karolina Romanowska, an artist based in Madison, Wisconsin, has garnered attention for her unique ceramic masks, which depict a range of peculiar creatures. Her work involves a meticulous process of shaping clay using slabs, coils, and molds, followed by painting the creations with vibrant colors and pastel tones. Romanowska’s masks are not just art pieces; they are a nod to the historical significance of masks in human culture, used in rituals and entertainment to either conceal or reveal identities.
The masks are a testament to the artist’s childhood memories of playing in the dirt, transforming mud into imaginative objects, and now, through her art, she continues to explore this sense of freedom and creativity. Her expressive works, which balance resilience and fragility, reflect the contradictory emotions that these anthropomorphic characters embody.
I find that material extremely giving as it’s reminiscent of my childhood days of playing in the dirt. Those were some of the most fun times I had as a child, engaging with my environment and transforming mud into pizzas, birds, and castles. Through mud, I am able to experience true freedom. (…) Masks are present wherever humans are. I am only repeating an act that has been done since the beginning of us. Used for rituals and entertainment, masks can hide or reveal who we are.
Karolina Romanowska
More info: Instagram (h/t: Colossal).
