Ukrainian sculptural ceramics gains ground at international design fairs

Natura Ceramica, owned by Andriy and Olesya Voznicki, transforms textures and irregularities into artistic identity. The ceramics studio will be present at Maison&Objet 2026.

Natura Ceramica is a family studio specializing in sculptural ceramics that combines hand modeling — an ancient technique — with contemporary formal research. Based in Amsterdam since 2022, the atelier was created by the artist couple Andriy and Olesya Voznicki, graduates of the Lviv National Academy of Arts in Ukraine.

The brand creates art objects for interiors with a focus on experiments that combine ceramics with wood and charcoal. The hallmark of these creations lies in the appreciation of textures, roughness, cracks, and irregularities, which reflect a deep appreciation for the natural process of expression. Anomalies that arise during creation are welcomed as desirable characteristics, giving the pieces unique charm and singular character.

In recent years, the studio has participated in prestigious exhibitions and fairs, including Collectible, PAN Amsterdam, Revelations, PAD Paris, Maison&Objet Paris, and Salon Art + Design. Their pieces have also been exhibited at Salone del Mobile in collaboration with Poliform, Piet Boon, and Emmemobili. The atelier will be present at the 2026 Maison&Objet edition.

A Journey Marked by War

Originally established in 2012 in the historic center of Uzhhorod, a Ukrainian city, the studio was transferred to the Dutch capital after the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe. The inspiration comes from the positive emotions provided by nature, with special attention to the conciseness of forms and product recognizability. Rather than increasing production volumes, the artists seek to make each product as individual as possible.

Training in a Ukrainian Cultural Center

Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine and the fifth largest in the country, has an estimated population of 723,403 inhabitants. Founded in 1250 by King Daniel of Galicia, the metropolis became the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia. The historic center, with its cobblestone streets and architecture combining Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, and Art Nouveau, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

The city now competes for the title of cultural capital of the country, hosting jazz festivals, classical music events, and cultural programs that attract audiences from neighboring countries. During the Soviet regime, Lviv became a bastion of Ukrainian national resistance.

The Lviv National Academy of Arts was officially inaugurated in September 1946 as the State Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts. However, the institution was founded based on the Lviv School of Art and Industry, known since 1876. In 2004, it received national educational institution status for its significant contribution to the development of national education and science.

Twenty-one graduates of the academy have become winners of the Shevchenko Prize, Ukraine’s highest honor for works of culture and the arts. The institution offers specializations in painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, monumental painting, artistic metalwork, interior design, artistic glass, artistic textiles, and other areas.

Two Creative Directions

The studio’s artistic practice is divided into two directions. The first, under the Natura Ceramica brand, focuses on issues such as monumentality, stillness and movement, atmosphere, and formal development. The works explore themes such as beginning and end, life and transformation, stone and flesh — processes in which both artists work together.

The second direction, signed only by Andriy under the name Voznicki, includes structural wall panels and sculptures in various materials, such as ceramics, bronze, and wood. The central concept of this line is humanistic non-figurative art — abstract works that convey states and conditions without representing the human figure.

Intuitive Process

One of the central aspects of the work is intuitive creation, without preliminary sketches. The goal is immersion in a state of meditative satisfaction, in which the artist does not control the process, but is guided by it. Each preceding form and movement generates the next volume. The artists seek to minimize external influences, trends, and prior artistic references, pursuing work that is as intuitive as possible.