Ceramic artist Carolin Ludwigs: Minimalist objects made from wild and recycled clay

Carolin Ludwigs vor ihrer Keramikwerkstatt in Hamburg | Foto: CL-AY

I first became aware of the ceramic artist Carolin Ludwigs and her studio CL·AY at the contemporary crafts fair at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg. Her clay objects immediately captivated me. The minimalist design and the feel of the surfaces evoked in me the memory of the last time I felt damp earth in my hands.

"The surfaces of my works are deliberately left untreated. I forgo decorative glazes and instead rely on the narrative power of the material itself."

My association wasn't far-fetched, as I learned in conversation with Carolin. She prefers to work with recycled and/or so-called wild clay, which she collects herself, for example, on the North and Baltic Seas, but also in Hamburg, and from which a malleable material is created through many work steps.

"My work arises from a deep connection with nature, a conscious reduction to the essentials, and the desire to tell stories through materials."

When I visited her in her light-filled studio in Hamburg, I was greeted not only by the very friendly Carolin, but also by the calm – almost meditative – atmosphere of her ceramics studio. No wonder, because not only do her ceramic objects and her working methods radiate grounding and tranquility, but Carolin also offers workshops in which she combines mindfulness, meditation, and working on the potter's wheel.

People come to her for a break from the sensory overload of everyday life. Consciously working with their hands and the earth allows them to return to the here and now and linger.

Carolin's works also convey this feeling. They exist in the space between art objects and functional ceramics. As solitary pieces on a table or shelf, they radiate tranquility and naturalness.

When I visited Carolin, I selected a few favorite items for my shop, which are now available there:

Asia vases made from recycled clay | Unique pieces | Atelier Maike Kristina Harich

Tea bowl made from Hamburg earth | Unique | Atelier Maike Kristina Harich

More about Carolin's studio and workshops: https://www.cl-ay.de/

Copyright photos & text: Maike Kristina Harich

Note: The people and places I present here are purely editorial selections made by me. No money is paid for publication and I wouldn't accept any either :-).