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We first asked Agata how her distinctive ceramic characters and recognizable visual language developed over time, and what usually sparks the idea for a new creature: “It’s actually quite hard for me to explain where my ideas come from. They just appear in my head, and I try to bring them to life exactly as I imagine them. I’ve never consciously tried to develop a distinctive or recognizable style. I think an artist’s style evolves naturally over years of working — it comes from the way they see the world, their sense of humor, their sensitivity, and the things they’re drawn to. Over time, it becomes something deeply personal, almost a part of who you are, which is why I don’t think it’s something you can really plan or simply decide to change.”
We were also curious about the way she combines sculpture with functionality, and whether the practical purpose of a piece usually comes before or after the character itself: “My creative process is quite chaotic - maybe that has something to do with my ADHD. I don’t really have one set way of working. Sometimes I’ll make a simple form, like a vase, and only afterwards decide what it could become or what I could add to it. Other times it’s the complete opposite - I’ll have an idea for a strange or funny little animal, and only later figure out how to make it functional. I might add something to it and suddenly it becomes a candle holder, a vase, or some other functional object.”
Since dogs appear so frequently in her work, Bored Panda asked what makes them such an important source of inspiration and how her own experiences with animals have shaped what she creates: “I love nature, and animals have always been a very important part of both my life and my work. But dogs have always come first. I truly believe they are the most wonderful creatures ever sent to this earth. To me, there is nothing more perfect than a dog.”
Finally, when asked about the unusual mix of humor, tenderness, and grotesque elements that appears throughout her ceramics, and whether she hopes viewers will experience a particular emotion when encountering them, Agata said: “I’m really glad you see that in my work, because humor, tenderness, and a touch of strangeness are all very much a part of me, so I suppose they naturally come through in the things I make. But when I’m creating, I don’t really think about what I want people to feel. I just put myself into my work - my sense of humor, my sensitivity, and the way I see the world. I think there’s a little bit of me in every character I create.”
