MEET MIRKA

Mirka Drapaniotou (Greece, 1971) is a versatile ceramicist who bridges the rich heritage of Greek ceramic traditions with innovative, conceptual explorations of clay. Born in Athens, Greece, she began her creative journey studying fashion and costume design, working in the fashion industry from 1992 to 2000.

Her transition into the visual arts led her to discover a passion for ceramics, where she developed her skills under the guidance of respected teachers like Marilena Michopoulou and Menandros Papadopoulos between 2013 and 2017.

Her artistic education also includes extensive training in free-hand drawing and chromatics with Irene Koutridou and Stavros Bonatsos from 2012 to 2019. Mirka expanded her expertise by studying classic sculptural techniques with Altin Patselis from 2014 to 2016 and exploring form design with visual artist and ceramist Nikos Sklavenitis between 2015 and 2017.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Mirka Drapaniotou’s ceramics inhabit the space between dualities, where fragility merges with strength and the echoes of tradition blend seamlessly with contemporary expression. Her practice is a deep engagement with the vulnerabilities of clay, a material that she coaxes into revealing its hidden beauty in both the precision of its shaping and the eloquent embrace of imperfection.

Drapaniotou often begins her creative journey by crafting flawless forms, only to reshape and reassemble them into intricate, symbiotic structures before firing. This transformation speaks to the delicate balance between control and surrender, as the forms evolve beyond their origins, embracing the fluidity of change. Drapaniotou’s signature technique—piercing the clay with needle-like precision—becomes a meditative act, a way of testing the material’s limits while turning it into a translucent veil that blurs the line between the tangible and the ethereal.

Her creations frequently take the shape of modular compositions, where individual elements nestle and interact with each other in a state of dynamic balance. These structures invite endless possibilities for arrangement, embodying a spirit of connection and interdependence, with each piece finding its role within a larger whole. Echoing the principles of Constructivism, Drapaniotou’s work treats these forms as articulated structures that function together, constantly shifting in dialogue, where each component contributes to the overall unity.

Drapaniotou’s embrace of imperfections infuses her work with a deeply human resonance. By deliberately introducing flaws into her pieces, she brings a sense of vulnerability and authenticity to her ceramics, drawing viewers closer through their shared experience of imperfection. This approach breaks down the barriers often associated with flawless creation, replacing them with a touch of warmth that speaks to the honesty of the artist’s hand.

A thread of ritual runs through Drapaniotou’s work, connecting her pieces to the long-standing traditions of Greek craftsmanship. Her ceramics serve as vessels of memory, echoing the ancient customs where everyday objects played a central role in communal and spiritual gatherings. Candelabras designed to hold beeswax candles, or vessel forms that invite the act of offering, transform these pieces into contemporary ceremonial icons, honouring the timeless rituals of connection and giving.

Influenced by the rich landscape of Greek culture, Drapaniotou draws inspiration from both nature and architectural forms, weaving these elements into her work. Her pieces reflect the stability of ancient structures while embracing the movement of natural patterns. With a palette of earthy tones and textures that evoke the warmth of the Mediterranean, she creates ceramics that resonate with a sense of place and identity, inviting touch and contemplation.

In her artistic journey, Drapaniotou skillfully combines her techniques and inspirations to create ceramics that tell a story of becoming. Each piece stands as a testament to the enduring qualities of craft and human experience, bridging the past with the present. Through her work, she invites us to find beauty not just in the finished object, but in the act of transformation itself, celebrating the richness of impermanence and the layers of cultural memory.

CURRICULUM VITAE

A versatile ceramicist, Mirka Drapaniotou bridges inspirations from Greek ceramic heritage and craftsmanship with conceptual explorations in clay. Her work reflects a deep engagement with both tradition and innovation, resulting in pieces that resonate with cultural memory and contemporary relevance.

Education

Form Design with Nikos Sklavenitis (2015 – 2017)
Free-Hand Drawing and Chromatics with Irene Koutridou (2012 – 2017)
Ceramics with Marilena Michopoulou and Menandros Papadopoulos (2013 – 2017)
Classic Sculpture with Altin Patselis (2014 – 2016)
Fashion and Costume Design, Athens, Greece (1992 – 2000)

Teaching Experience

Instructor, Clay Form Sculpture ‘Keramikes Morfes’ (Present)

Exhibitions

Biennale of Contemporary Κeramics (ΒCK), Santorini (2024)
Chimera Culture, “Anama”, Syros, 2023
Archaeological Museum of Syros, “4500 Years Later”, Syros, 2023
Gallery 6 Exi, “Kanata Neru”, Thessaloniki, 2022
Benaki Museum Shop, “Project Mirror”, Athens, 2022
Ceramics Exhibition, “East Meets West (Greek & Catalan Ceramic Art in Paxos)”, Paxos, 2022
Larnaca Biennale, “Limitless Limits”, Larnaca, Cyprus, 2021
Mon Coin Studio, “Aegean”, Monastiraki, Athens, 2021
6th Ceramics Exhibition, with the Ceramist Group Kerameon Ichni, Archaeological Museum of Olympia, 2021
Hellenic American Union Gallery, “Melana”, Athens, 2021
5th Ceramics Exhibition, with Ceramist Group Kerameon Ichni, Agora Argiri, Patras, 2019
Eleni Marneri Gallery, “Metamorphosis”, Athens, 2019
Ceramics – Sculpture Exhibition, “Equality of Two Genders” with the Ceramist Group Kerameon Ichni, Kalamata, 2018
MELANITRHOS Gallery, “Clay Stories II – Containing Content”, Athens, 2018
54th Panhellenic Ceramics Exhibition, Marousi, Athens, 2016
MELANITRHOS Gallery, “Clay Stories I”, Athens, 2016

Seminars & Symposia

1st Symposium of Ceramics, Archaeological Museum of Syros, Syros, 2023
5-Month Seminar on “High Temperature Glazes” with ceramist George Vavatsis, Athens, 2022
International Ceramics Symposium, “Approaching Low Temperature”, Aegina, 2021
Alternative Baking Methods (Raku) with Thodoris Galigalidis, Athens, 2018
Symposium with Ceramist Group Kerameon Ichni, Kalamata, 2018
Form Development with Rafa Perez, Athens, 2018
Alternative Baking Methods (Raku) with Theodora Chorafa, Aegina, 2017
Form Development with Velimir Vukicevic, Patras, 2017
“Ceramic Decoration – History of Ceramics” by Lia Papailia, at Keramikes Morfes, Athens, 2017

Affiliations

Founding Member, Art Group TERRACTIVA