Nastia Calaca is a Ukrainian ceramic artist, currently living and working in Haarlem, Netherlands. Her anthropomorphized animals look like peculiar storybook characters brought to life.
I have always been dreaming of becoming an illustrator. Creating intricate illustrations, reinventing beloved book characters, and writing new versions of my favorite stories was all part of my childhood. One day, I unexpectedly stumbled upon ceramics. We unconditionally fell in love and have never parted since, having now been united for more than 9 years. (…) Personas and illustrations shaped into the teapots, pot holders, and little decorative statues. They started their life as flat images on the printed pages, but then they came to life as real and alive as I imagined them; you can touch, cuddle, hug, and kiss them. As for me, I even talk to my handmade fellows. We agree on the number of their fingers, the color of their eyes, come up with their past, and discuss their future. Every such piece I create is unique. Even the copies I make on-demand are different from the original, they have mood and character of their own; some gain a wee bit of weight, some get a few new charming little wrinkles, and each of them hopes to be loved and cared for by their new owners. With hand modeling and glazing, the final result is always a surprise. Unpredictably magical changes take place in the kiln where every 10 degrees add a new exceptional effect.
Nastia Calaca
More info: Website, Etsy, Instagram, YouTube.
