Talking Clay: Clara Holt

We’re delighted to welcome Clara Holt to Throwing Shapes as the next artist in our Talking Clay series. Clara will be joining us from Italy, where she’s based, and will also be teaching a sgraffito masterclass in the studio that weekend - making this a special opportunity to hear directly from her while she’s in Dublin. 

📅 Date: Friday, 27th February
🕕 Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Throwing Shapes

About Clara:
Clara Holt is an Italian artist, born in 1987 and raised in Pescara. She has a background in classical studies and graduated in neuroscience before discovering her passion for ceramics, especially ceramic decoration — as well as printmaking and etching.

Clara has exhibited her work in Italy and abroad, and is the co-founder of Fuoco Blu, a ceramic studio in Milan. This shared space is dedicated to ceramics and hosts both teaching activities and commissioned work alongside her personal practice. In 2024, Clara opened a second small ceramics workshop in Genoa by the sea, where she works and occasionally hosts artist residencies.

Clara’s work is rooted in storytelling, driven by a desire to share stories, characters, and experiences. Her narratives draw inspiration from mythology, folklore, legends, and real or imagined tales of the places she inhabits or visits. These stories, passed down through tradition or emerging from the unconscious, are rich with symbols that speak to the most irrational and hidden aspects of human nature.

Join us for this intimate and insightful evening as Clara speaks about her practice, influences, and approach to storytelling through clay and surface. This talk offers a thoughtful introduction to her work and a deeper context for those attending her sgraffito masterclass, as well as a rare chance to hear from an artist whose narrative-led practice bridges tradition, decoration, and contemporary ceramics.