'A glimpse of the passage of time'

I work with clay, metal, and found objects, and often fire combinations of materials, pushing them to their physical limits and observing the changes that occur.

In addition to using traditional clay recipes, I develop my own to construct and explore textures that are rough, sharp, and surprising. My fascination with the concept of time, especially with elements such as fragility, fragmentation, disintegration, and life change, is reflected in my pieces. I explore the physical aging process and the invisible interior experiences we accumulate over time.

The different layers and inner formal complexity in my work reflect my curiosity about what humans reveal to each other, what layers we are willing to expose, what we keep hidden, and whether there is a conflict between them.

As a material, ceramics are often associated with smooth and robust-looking objects. My work challenges this perception by playing with the fragile boundary between people’s curiosity and their hesitancy as they handle my pieces.

I also find real joy in finding discarded and ambiguous objects and investigating their physical properties and imagined purpose. By integrating them into my ceramic art, I give them a new context, belonging, and identity, and use them as a springboard for exploring textures, materials, and the concept of time.

‘’I like to bring the outside inside, it makes me feel more connected with the outside world’’, Claudia Wassiczek

Background

Growing up in Austria, I became fascinated with manufacturing and production processes in the factories nearby, which sparked a lifelong interest in making & materials. I was particularly drawn to discarded objects and organic matter, often pulling them apart, tying them together, and studying their weight, texture, and feel.

In 2007, I had the opportunity to touch clay for the first time, and I was instantly mesmerized by its possibilities. I pursued my interest in sculpture by studying at Kensington and Chelsea College and City Lit London, where I graduated in 2015. Today, I work out of Cockpit Arts in Holborn, where I create a range of pieces, from large tactile sculptures to small, hand-held objects. I also exhibit my work internationally.