Laura Pasquino
STUDIO VISIT
7115: To kick it off, we’d love to hear the story behind your journey into ceramics. Was this always a medium that called to you, or did your interest grow over time? What sparked the initial curiosity?
Laura: My journey into ceramics feels like it was always meant to be. One of my earliest and fondest memories is of digging up clay from shallow seas as a child. I remember the smell, feeling of the cool, malleable earth and the fascination of shaping it into little forms, only to see them dissolve back into water. At the time, it was just play, but looking back, I think that connection with clay and its transformative nature planted the seeds for my artistic path.
While I’ve explored other mediums over the years, clay has always called me back. It’s a material that invites collaboration—you work with it, and it works with you. That balance of control and surrender continues to spark my curiosity and drive my practice today.
AOne of our favorite parts of getting to know an artist is learning about how they see the world.
Fascinated by the tension that exists between the seemingly constant and the impermanent, ceramic artist Laura Pasquino draws on the themes of life and change. Through her work, she creates an artistic study of “cultural shifts, personal growth, ecological cycles”.
Since Laura's childhood pastime of digging up clay from the sea, the medium has served as a life teacher and provided an avenue to express her appreciation for nature. Like nature, clay invites Laura to be an intentional participant, to engage in transformation, collaboration, and exploration.
In this interview, we learn how Laura’s morning commute sets the tone for her day, and how changing her space helped her work evolve. Laura also inspires us to reconsider our own engagement with Mother Nature, and and what she can teach us about impermanence, beauty, and life.
7115: What’s a day in your studio look like? Are there any rituals or routines that help you settle into your flow?
Laura: Each day in the studio feels both structured and dynamic, with no two days exactly alike. Like many people in Amsterdam, I start my mornings with a 20-minute bike ride to the studio—a time I use to clear my mind, map out the day, and reflect on ideas. By the time I arrive, I’m focused and ready to dive in.
The first thing I do is check on works in progress, assessing where I left off and what needs attention. When I’m preparing for exhibitions, the studio takes on a steady rhythm—kilns are constantly running to meet deadlines, so loading and unloading them on time becomes a priority. It’s a process that requires precision and care, ensuring every piece is ready for its next stage.
Once pieces are finished, they go through a thoughtful selection process, where I decide which ones will move forward and which won’t. This is followed by photographing, measuring, and recording each completed work, a ritual that helps me document their story. Some hours are also spent building shipping crates and carefully packing sculptures for transportation—a meticulous task, but one that feels like the final act of sending my pieces out into the world.
The balance of hands-on work and reflective decision-making keeps each day in the studio meaningful and engaging.
7115: Your work often touches on themes of impermanence and change. Looking back, how did this idea come about and how has this evolved through the years? When someone encounters your work, what do you hope they take away?
Laura: The themes of impermanence and change have always been central to my work, and I believe they stem from a deep fascination with the transient nature of life. Some years ago, I was drawn to the fragility of ceramics itself—the way clay transforms through fire, the possibility of breakage, and how time alters the surface and texture of the material. This natural evolution represents the human experience, where nothing remains static.
Over the years, my understanding of these themes has deepened. Initially, I focused on the physical properties of the medium as a metaphor for change, but now my work also engages with broader narratives—cultural shifts, personal growth, and ecological cycles. My practice has evolved to incorporate elements like erosion, layering, and even the intentional inclusion of flaws, which emphasize the beauty of the incomplete and the impermanent.
When someone encounters my work, I hope it encourages a moment of reflection—a reminder to find beauty in transformation, and to connect with the fleeting, fragile moments that shape our existence.
7115: Your studio has such a calming energy! We know you recently moved into this space, and we’re so grateful you’re sharing it with us and our community. How does being in this new environment influence your process and the work you create?
Laura: I’m so glad you feel that energy here. Moving into this spacious industrial building has been a transformative experience for both my process and my work. The scale and openness of the space allow me to approach my practice with a new sense of freedom. I can experiment with larger forms, more ambitious projects, and layouts that weren’t possible in my previous studio.
The building itself, with its industrial character, has been a source of inspiration. The raw textures, the play of light through the high windows, and the connection to its history all resonate with the themes that are central to my work. It feels like the perfect environment for ideas to take shape and evolve.
But beyond the physical space, it’s also been a grounding and calming place to create. The quiet rhythm of working here allows me to be fully present in the moment, whether I’m sculpting, glazing,or simply reflecting on the direction of my practice. I’m excited to see how this space continues to shape my work and the stories I want to tell through it.
7115: Nature seems to play such a beautiful role in your work, whether it’s landscapes, or geological formations. Can you share with us how these elements shape your work? Is the inspiration something that comes naturally, or do you seek them out?
Laura: Nature has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and it feels like an integral part of my creative process. Whether it’s the layered striations of a geological formation, the quiet rhythm ofa landscape, or the subtle textures of eroded rock, these natural elements provide both a visual language and a philosophical framework for my work.
The inspiration often feels instinctive—it’s as if the shapes and textures of nature find their way into my hands while I’m working with clay. That said, I also actively seek out moments of connection with the natural world. I like to spend time in nature, study geological patterns, and observe how time and weather leave their marks on the earth. Those moments of observation inform the way I approach form and surface.
What I find most compelling about these elements is how they speak to cycles of growth, decay, and renewal—ideas that parallel our own human experiences. I try to capture that sense of timelessness and movement in my work, so that each piece feels like a small fragment of a larger story.
7115: With your roots in Estonia and now living and working in Amsterdam, how has your journey shaped your practice and perspective as an artist?
Laura: Growing up in Estonia, I was surrounded by a deep connection to nature, traditions, and a sense of quiet introspection that continues to influence my work today. The landscapes of my childhood—the dense forests, the coastline, and the stark seasonal changes—instilled in me a sensitivity to texture, rhythm, and the passage of time, which often surface in my ceramics.
I left Estonia when I was 17 years old and have lived in different parts of the world ever since. Moving to Amsterdam brought an entirely different energy to my practice. Here, I’m immersed in a vibrant, multicultural city with a rich history and a forward-thinking creative community. This contrast has pushed me to explore new ideas and embrace experimentation in my work. Amsterdam has also given me access to an incredible network of artists from around the world and resources, which has broadened my perspective and encouraged great collaborations.
The journey itself—leaving one place and building a life in another—mirrors some of the central themes in my work, such as transition and adaptation. It has taught me to appreciate the interplay between rootedness and change, tradition and innovation. Ultimately, this blending of influences has shaped my identity as an artist and allowed me to create pieces that feel personal yet universal.
7115: Szeki first came across your work at YŌNOBI Gallery in 2021 and was instantly captivated by it. Since then, you’ve achieved so much! Is there a specific project or milestone that feels especially meaningful to you?
Laura: Thank you so much—it’s incredibly humbling to hear that my work resonated with you back in 2021 at YÖNOBI Gallery. That moment marked a pivotal time for me, as it opened up opportunities to share my work with a wider audience and grow as an artist.
Since then, one of the most meaningful experiences has been creating and presenting my solo exhibitions. These shows allow me to bring together a cohesive body of work and explore my ideas on a deeper level. They provide a space for me to experiment, refine my techniques, and fully immerse myself in the themes I’m passionate about. It’s always incredibly rewarding to see how people interpret the pieces and connect with them in their own ways.
Laura Pasquino
www.laurapasquino.com
@laura_pasquino
7115: We’ve also noticed you’ve begun experimenting with new mediums lately, so exciting! What’s next on the horizon for you?
Laura: Exploring painting has been such an exciting and refreshing journey for me. It’s allowed me to approach my ideas in a different way, shifting my focus to color, fluidity, and movement in a way that complements the textures and forms of my ceramic work. Painting has opened up new possibilities for storytelling and expression, and I’m eager to see how these two practices will continue to inform and influence each other.
Looking ahead, I’m really interested in creating more inter disciplinary projects that bring together ceramics, painting, and potentially other mediums. I want to explore how these different forms can coexist and create dialogue within a single space. There’s also a part of me that’s drawn to working on a larger scale, whether that’s through installations or outdoor pieces that engage more directly with the environment.
Right now, I’m in a phase of experimentation and curiosity, and I’m embracing the unknown. My next steps are about continuing to push boundaries while staying true to the themes of transformation and connection that are central to my work.
