Ksenia Shigaeva
- Ceramics
- Ceramic Art
- Crafts
- Designer
- Artist
- Craftsperson
- Uusimaa
- Competent
I define myself as a “designer-maker” because both parts of this title are crucial to me. As a designer I like to rethink common objects, seeking alternative uses that transcend the ordinary. As a maker I like to create things with my hands. In my practice, ideas develop and flourish in the making. I believe that a tiny detail can change perception of an object – both for the better and for the worse – and to the details I attend.
Yet, the cornerstone of my practice is the aspect of play: I enjoy playing with ideas, shapes, colors, materials, and processes. Moreover, I want people to actively interact, i.e. play with my objects, whether it’s simply arranging colors on their breakfast table or implementing new scenarios in their simplest everyday routines.
Contact me
ksenia@clayful.designExperience
Work experience
Education
Bergen National Academy of the Arts (Norway)
Bachelor in Fine Arts / Ceramics (completion)
2008 – 2009
Saratov State University (Russia)
MSc Physics
1999 – 2004
Works
A versatile candle holder with specially designed spaces on each side to accommodate various types of candles.
https://www.clayful.design/portfolio/the-cube/
Whimsical cups with colorful knobs as an alternative to a traditional handle.
Buttons offer a unique twist on traditional handles. The knobs scattered around the exterior serve not only as decorative elementsbut also as grip points, allowing users to hold the cup without coming into contact with its hot surface. Once the drink has cooleddown a bit, nestling fingers between the buttons provides a super cozy experience.
https://www.clayful.design/product-category/buttons/
Colorful porcelain tableware collection.
Utterly tactile functional everyday tableware in a range of pastel colors. Simple silhouettes and a subtle color palette allow all elements to harmoniously complement each other and brighten even the greyest morning.
https://www.clayful.design/product-category/minimal/
Light, translucent, summery cups and bowls.
Decorations of this series, naive on one hand and precisely structured on the other, were inspired by Stig Lindberg’s drawings, hence the word ‘Swedish’ in the name of the collection. Items are unified by colors and a common decorative style but vary in shape, size, and decoration. This, in my opinion, enhances the collection’s playfulness, lightness, and summery charm.
https://www.clayful.design/product-category/swedish-summer/
Collaboration project with the ceramicist Jette Löwén (Denmark).
“Matryoshka” is a narrative that delves into our diverse cultures and stories, with a focus on design, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Our collaboration dates back to 2009, when we met at Guldagergård Ceramic Research Center during Project Network. There, we decided to blend our countries’ cultural symbols by combining the form and concept of Matryoshka dolls with H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales. Since then, we have worked on this project, exploring places, developing new ideas, experimenting, and creating new Matryoshka dolls. The Matryoshka dolls serve as canvases, allowing us to unfold various narratives through a range of decoration techniques. These stories are inspired by our shared interests and memories over the years, with references to our different cultures and backgrounds.
https://www.clayful.design/portfolio/snip-snap-snude/
Commissioned work inspired by client’s original photos from various remote locations.
A set of tea bowls made for a professional traveller and world explorer Sasha Gerasimov. Surfaces of the cups are based on the photos of various natural phenomena that he captured during his trips to the most extraodinary places.
https://www.clayful.design/portfolio/landscape-bowls/
Breakfast tableware collection.
The Edges & Lines collection stands out with its unique, yet ergonomic shapes based on an irregular hexagon. Pastel colors, combination of matte and glossy surfaces, and black diagonal lines that emphasize the angles of the shapes, are the distinctive features of this collection.
https://www.clayful.design/portfolio/edges-and-lines/
Small minimalist vases for a single stem or a small flower arrangement.
The vases look quite simple on the outside but there is a lot happenning inside: extra weight is added to the bottom part for stability, and also a small cylinder is attached to the base for a stem to go in, so that even a long single flower would stand straight and neat.
https://www.clayful.design/product-category/duo-vases/