I'm Frieda, 25. For me, ceramics is more than a craft – it's a process that grounds me, challenges me, and inspires me at the same time. What fascinates me about clay is this special interplay of patience, physical awareness, and curiosity: the opportunity to create something with my own hands that combines form, function, and emotion. I first came into contact with clay as a child through my grandparents – a small beginning that caught up with me again many years later.
In my early twenties, I consciously started working with ceramics again and was immediately hooked. Back then, still in my childhood bedroom, I shaped and glazed my first pieces and quickly discovered how versatile and fulfilling this craft is.
During the pandemic, I invested in my first potter's wheel and practiced in my bedroom – something I wouldn't recommend to anyone, as the mess you make as a beginner (and even as an advanced player) is considerable. With a lot of perseverance, curiosity, and enthusiasm, I taught myself the basics of wheel throwing. And the more I learned, the greater my desire became to delve deeper into this craft.
While WWOOFing in Sweden – volunteering on farms – I first heard about the concept of "Folkhögskola . " These Swedish folk high schools are open schools that focus on creative, practical, and personal development. Students live and learn together there, often in small classes, with plenty of time for individual projects, exchange, and practical experience. When I heard about it, I knew immediately: That's what I want to do.
In August 2024, I fulfilled this dream and enrolled in the year-long ceramics course in Grebbestad on the beautiful west coast of Sweden. This time was incredibly enriching – characterized by inspiring people, an open and supportive environment, and nature that provided creative energy every day. During these months, it became definitively clear to me: I want to spend as much time as possible working with ceramics.
Back in Germany, I finally set up my own small studio. Since then, I've been developing my own style, experimenting with shapes, glazes, and surfaces, and curiously following new ideas that arise from the material itself. I don't know where my ceramic journey will lead me – but one thing is certain: clay has been a part of my life all my life, and it will continue to be.