Introducing Muses, a series inspired by our core pillars: the organic, the feminine, movement, and integrity.
Karina Smagulova
Our first spotlight is on Karina Smagulova, a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans craft, art, and design. With a background in architecture, Karina explores the physicality of form through clay, using hand-building techniques like coiling to create asymmetrical, expressive vessels. Her ongoing Women Vessels series reflects her research into the deeper meanings of the vessel and its connection to the feminine.
How did you get into working with clay?
Working with clay was a natural evolution for me, following my journey through different materials and mediums. I come from a family of classical musicians, so I’ve always been surrounded by creative expression. It started with musical instruments, then shifted to architecture, and eventually led me to clay.
How do your creations come to life?
It's been a gradual process. In the beginning, I relied on my architectural background—planning, designing, and trying to control every outcome. But clay has its own limitations and its own ideas, and I often felt like I was arguing with the material. Eventually, I let go of that need for control and embraced coiling, a hand-building method.
I love that there’s a dialogue between the material and creation. It’s the same for our jewellery — certain stones can only be sourced in certain sizes, some are strong and some aren't, every aspect has to be considered.
"My aim with art is to create a space where the feminine can come through and feel alive. In a way, my practice and this body of work have led me to connect with real people. I think integrity lies in that, in the sense that it cannot be done without authentic relationships."
Tell me about your project, Woman. Where does the name come from, and what inspired you to start it?
The name of the project Woman came in retrospect and I think at the time, I was also really exploring my identity and what it means to be a woman. I was first connecting with all its elements and the theory. But then in practice my internal thoughts really shaped the forms and it evolved naturally.
What piece are you most proud of?
Honestly, the ones I’m most proud of are the ones I thought were going to collapse but didn’t! A lot of my experimentation pushes the material to its limits, and you never know if a piece will survive the three-week process and firing in the kiln.
Lets talk about jewellery, what is the first piece of jewellery that made an impression on you?
"Many of my first pieces of jewellery came from my mother, and they carry strong childhood memories. These pieces have travelled through three generations, much like a portal to the past."
"Ceramics can do this as well—in the same way that an old vessel transports you to a different era, jewellery connects you to someone’s past life. With jewellery, it’s even more personal because it’s in constant contact with the human body, and that’s something that comes through in natural materials as well."
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Credits:
Photographer & Video: Kristina Varaksina