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© Tihomir Rachev
© Pottery & Poetry
© Pottery & Poetry
© Tihomir Rachev
© Pottery & Poetry

Maria Baleva

  • Pottery & Poetry
  • Ceramicist
  • Sofia, Bulgaria
  • Rising Star
Maria Baleva Ceramicist
Contact
Bulgarian, English, Spanish
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 18:30
Phone:
+359 889312498
© Pottery & Poetry

The poetry of ceramics

  • • Maria is a trained architect who turned to handmade ceramics
  • • Her brand Pottery & Poetry quickly became popular
  • • Maria’s studio is part home, part architecture office

Maria Baleva has enjoyed a rewarding architecture career as the co-founder of contemporary Bulgarian studio FUNKT, whose signature style is seen in restaurants and offices across the country. But a year ago she decided to indulge her long-held passion for working with clay. Once she had procured everything – a dedicated space and a clay oven – she swiftly gained skills and pursued ever-bolder experiments. One evening over a glass of wine with her friend Zornitsa Genova – a lawyer by day, poet by night – they created the brand Pottery & Poetry, where each piece of pottery would be accompanied by a dedicated poem. All items are handmade and glazed with non-toxic materials. The brand is appreciated by customers and connoisseurs alike for its unique, vibrant style.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Pottery & Poetry
  • © Pottery & Poetry
  • © Pottery & Poetry
  • © Pottery & Poetry
  • © Pottery & Poetry
Photo: © Pottery & Poetry
Giselle cake stand

Hand built porcelain cake stand, finished with transparent glaze and adorned with gold lustre. The slab modelling technique was used for the main shape, while Maria favoured the kurinuki technique for the edges.

Height 16 cm
Diameter 30 cm

Photo: © Pottery & Poetry
Food Stories trays & bowls

Hand built bowls and serving trays with integrated containers for dips and small items of food. Maria used the slab modelling technique to create them.

Photo: © Pottery & Poetry
Kurinuki cups

Hand built cups made using several techniques including slab modelling and kurinuki.

Photo: © Pottery & Poetry
Ping-pong production #4

These multifunctional hand built items can function as candleholders, vases or aromatherapy holders. They were created in collaboration with N8 design shop. Maria used the traditional kurinuki technique.

Photo: © Pottery & Poetry
Sunshine plates

Colourful, hand built, porcelain set composed of free-shaped plates with uneven lines and patterns.

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