Klara Kristalova (b. 1967, Czechoslovakia; lives and works in Norrtälje, Sweden) creates figurative ceramic sculptures that take on hybrid forms. Many of Kristalova’s works incorporate both aspects of the human body and elements of nature, such as animals, insects, flowers, and trees. Infused with uncanny details and observations from her daily life and surroundings, Kristalova’s figures constitute a juxtaposition of scale where minute details reflect the monumental impact of constant change. Her oeuvre is grounded in an exploration of transitional states essential to both human and ecological life, and her sculptures conjure a familiar yet fantastical presence that exudes raw emotion. Building a fictive world that bridges humanity, ecology, and fantasy, Kristalova’s sculptures undergird the omnipresence of change across all forms of life.
Crafted in the artist’s secluded studio in Norrtälje, Sweden, Kristalova’s rugged style evokes a sense of discomfort, mirroring the sensitive and porous emotional landscape one finds themselves in when weathering changes. The figures exist in a liminal state, often possessing both human and anthropomorphic qualities and perhaps challenging such distinctions altogether. In this sense, Kristalova’s rustic style reminds us that the sculptural process is inherently transformative, as natural materials are shaped into static and enduring forms.
