Myrsini Alexandridi

Myra

Ceramic decorator

©Myrsini Alexandridi

Greek folklore on a tile

White tiles and ceramic objects are Myrsini's canvas
Her work is an improvisation on the Greek tradition
She divides her time between her two studios in Stockholm and Skopelos

Myrsini Alexandridi studied architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and is a practitising architect in Stockholm. She also took courses in ceramics and painting as she has always been fascinated by drawing and painting. Living in Amsterdam in 2016, she would visit second-hand shops and find objects she could change and give another life to. Once, she found some ordinary white tiles and started painting on the glazed surface in the same way that she painted on paper. “That is when I realised how much I enjoyed the process of holding a ceramic tile and looking at how the paint interacts with the glaze,” she says. Myrsini created her company in 2019 and now focuses on handpainted tile murals aiming to “create something extraordinary from the ordinary.”

Interview

©Myrsini Alexandridi

©Myrsini Alexandridi

Why did you choose this craft?: My studies and work as an architect have made me understand and embrace craftsmanship. I began to experiment with my desire to create with my hands. The materiality and tactility of tiles intrigued me from the very first moment.
How do you express your Greek heritage in your work?: Even though I am currently living in Sweden, Greece is my heritage: its history, tradition, architecture, customs, and topography shape me as a person, artist and architect and influence my work. In my work, I try to reconnect with my roots, my memories of places I have been to, and images from my childhood.
Where do you draw inspiration?: I get inspired by folklore that is transferred from one generation to the next. I was very lucky to grow up with two grandmothers who made embroidery. It is fundamental for me to keep my origins alive through my work. I remember sitting and doing my homework at the kitchen table while my grandmother patiently knitted next to me.
Which techniques do you use?: For tile murals I use smalt paint on top of glazed surfaces; the paint mimics the look of glazed ceramics without the need for a kiln. I paint ceramic vases and plates with underglazes on top of the bisque. Once they are dry, I glaze and fire them in the kiln. My painting techniques are pointillism on two-dimensional objects and continuous lines on three-dimensional objects.

Myrsini Alexandridi is a rising star: she began her career in 2020