Olga Myltseva

Ceramicist

An explosion of creativity

Olga turned to ceramics after making papier maché dolls
It takes her up to two months to create a sculpture
She creates ceramic versions of Neolithic rock paintings

Olga Myltseva uses the principles of molecular cuisine in her ceramics; sometimes it is a challenge to guess what her pieces are made of. One of her signature skills, is imitating different materials and textures, from rusted metal to stone, using clay. "I am fascinated by the tactile experience that ceramics can offer," she says. "It gives me a thrill to create a piece that feels like concrete or looks like copper." She started out by making dolls from papier maché and polymeric materials, but soon sought a new, more versatile medium for her ideas. Ceramics gave Olga what she was looking for, and her creativity exploded. She now makes intricate vases, exuberant figurative sculptures and thought-provoking wall panels.

Interview

Do you still make dolls?: Yes! I have a passion for delicate workmanship; dolls, as well as fantasy sculptures such as mythological animals or theatrical characters, give me an opportunity to make very fine objects with a wealth of details, from hair curls to jewellery. Ceramics has liberated my creativity in this as well.
What inspires your work?: All that is human and humane. Anything that touches my soul, and it could be tough stuff. One of my most recent pieces, for example, was inspired by the theme of domestic violence against women. It was ignited by a criminal case that resonated with me.
What do you love most about ceramics?: Ceramics is a very philosophical art. The outcome is hard to predict, and you learn from it. You work with a very ancient material that has survived for centuries, while being extremely fragile. I call it fragile eternity.
What sparked your interest in Neolithic rock art?: For me, ceramics is about pushing boundaries. I love the idea of using images from ancient rock paintings to create three-dimensional works – sculptures or wall panels – to give volume to the stories they tell. And it is about bridging centuries, too.

Olga Myltseva is a rising star: she began her career in 2017