Some objects carry a sense of place. A STUDY 002 is one of them—an exercise in restraint, in letting the material speak. We follow the hands of Wilma Nawara as she works with the rhythms of nature, shaping a cup that feels both found and made, holding the weight of the shore.
The collaboration between Wilma Nawara and New Works A STUDY came to life as a process of exploring textures and shapes with the aim of creating a functional and poetic cup for everyday use. Multiple silhouettes, techniques, clays and glazes were tested throughout the investigative process led by Wilma’s meticulous expertise and curious spirit. The final piece draws upon the hues and textures of the shore, combining her signature delicate edges and a keen eye for tactility with a defined geometrical silhouette. A glossy inside meets a matte exterior in two opposing colourways: one dark and one light. Portraying dualities of soft and sharp, dark and light, smooth and rough, the pieces beautifully capture and cultivate the interplay of contrasts that is an integral part of New Works.
It was a curiosity about the inherent beauty, tactility and function of clay that brought New Works to Wilma Nawara. She, a ceramic artist from the Netherlands, living and working in Portugal, strives to showcase the beauty of clay in its rawness with ceramic pieces focused on simplicity and functionality.
Her love for the rugged landscape surrounding the coastal town of Ferrel where she resides, informs her work when she collects wild clay from the nearby beach and draws inspiration from the reflections of rocks and sand formations. This experimental and holistic approach that is an inherent part of Wilma's practise resonates with A STUDY as a platform for unbridled material investigation. New Works A STUDY celebrates tactility above all and seeks to listen and learn directly from the material, much like Wilma herself.
The collaboration between Wilma Nawara and New Works A STUDY came to life as a process of exploring textures and shapes with the aim of creating a functional and poetic cup for everyday use. Multiple silhouettes, techniques, clays and glazes were tested throughout the investigative process led by Wilma’s meticulous expertise and curious spirit. The final piece draws upon the hues and textures of the shore, combining her signature delicate edges and a keen eye for tactility with a defined geometrical silhouette. A glossy inside meets a matte exterior in two opposing colourways: one dark and one light. Portraying dualities of soft and sharp, dark and light, smooth and rough, the pieces beautifully capture and cultivate the interplay of contrasts that is an integral part of New Works.
It was a curiosity about the inherent beauty, tactility and function of clay that brought New Works to Wilma Nawara. She, a ceramic artist from the Netherlands, living and working in Portugal, strives to showcase the beauty of clay in its rawness with ceramic pieces focused on simplicity and functionality.
Her love for the rugged landscape surrounding the coastal town of Ferrel where she resides, informs her work when she collects wild clay from the nearby beach and draws inspiration from the reflections of rocks and sand formations. This experimental and holistic approach that is an inherent part of Wilma's practise resonates with A STUDY as a platform for unbridled material investigation. New Works A STUDY celebrates tactility above all and seeks to listen and learn directly from the material, much like Wilma herself.
Each cup is handcrafted by Wilma in her ceramic workshop. Turned on the wheel and shaped by hand, each cup is made using the same orderly series of techniques by Wilma’s experienced hands, but with the small natural imperfections that make every piece special. When satisfied with the shape of the cup, Wilma rubs pebbles collected from the shore against the exterior, a process that compresses the surface, creating a smooth yet textured finish that invites curiosity and touch. Holding the cup is like holding a stone polished by the sea and warmed by the sun, thus crafting a quiet everyday ritual that evokes thoughts of the shore, the wind and the sun, and the warming colours of the sand and earth. A cup made for the small pauses and moments of reflection in daily life.
Each cup is handcrafted by Wilma in her ceramic workshop. Turned on the wheel and shaped by hand, each cup is made using the same orderly series of techniques by Wilma’s experienced hands, but with the small natural imperfections that make every piece special. When satisfied with the shape of the cup, Wilma rubs pebbles collected from the shore against the exterior, a process that compresses the surface, creating a smooth yet textured finish that invites curiosity and touch. Holding the cup is like holding a stone polished by the sea and warmed by the sun, thus crafting a quiet everyday ritual that evokes thoughts of the shore, the wind and the sun, and the warming colours of the sand and earth. A cup made for the small pauses and moments of reflection in daily life.
Wilma Nawara
Wilma Nawara’s journey into ceramics is deeply intertwined with her love of travel. For her, the craft is not just about the final object but the path of creation—an ongoing exploration shaped by places and experiences. Her work carries the traces of these encounters, from earthy textures to refined forms. Rooted in simplicity yet rich in detail, each piece invites touch, whether through burnished surfaces or raw, unglazed clay. Nawara’s approach is thoughtful: embracing imperfections and allowing time to shape both material and perspective. Her work traces its journey—evolving into reflections of place, time, and the quiet joy of making.
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