Ukrainian ceramicist Toma Lehit: I love the 'imperfections' and 'character' of my pieces because they make them unique

Toma Lehit is a Ukrainian ceramic artist who believes that each of her creations has its own "character." From childhood, she attended various art clubs and later realized that ceramics was her true calling, setting her on this path. The defining feature of her work is its "imperfection," which Toma sees as an essential element that makes each piece unique. Toma spoke with us about the uniqueness of her creations, the importance of supporting Ukrainian producers, and the distinctiveness of ceramic craftsmanship.

Interviewer: Why ceramics?

Toma: It all started in my childhood in Donbas. Since clay is mined in our region, children's pottery classes were popular, and that’s where I first discovered my talent for this art. Ceramics combines my love for both painting and sculpting. For me, it’s like magic – you start with a lump of clay, and in the end, you’re holding something special, something that carries a piece of your soul.

Interviewer: You have your own unique style and vision for how ceramic pieces should look. Tell us about the process of creating your jewelry and home decor items.

Toma: I like it when my ceramics have their own "character." I also appreciate when pieces have "imperfections," as it makes them unique. The process begins with an idea or an image I want to convey. At this stage, I try to envision the finished piece – what it will look like, its textures, shapes, and dimensions. Then I sit down with the clay, already knowing how I’ll work with it. Once the piece is sculpted, it needs to dry completely (ed. – 3-5 days). After that, I refine it, preparing it for decoration. I enjoy painting intuitively, giving the paints some freedom to "tell" their own story through each piece.

Interviewer: In addition to creating ceramic pieces, you're also an artist. How do ideas for each piece come about?

Toma: I'm inspired by literature, music, nature, and pretty much anything or anyone in this world. So, ideas often come unexpectedly. I might think during a walk, "Oh, this squirrel is sitting so funnily on the tree – need to make a mug with a squirrel having a midlife crisis". Sometimes, I can see the finished piece before I even touch the clay, and other times, the creation process leads me, and I have no idea what the final result will be.

Interviewer: You make clay holiday houses, dolls, flower pots... but out of all these works, there must be a favorite. Tell us about it.

Toma: My favorite is the mug with the lyrics from Shmalhausen's song "the cosmos smells like stars", because that’s the piece that started my professional ceramics journey. Until that moment, I was sculpting for myself and friends. I made this mug for my partner while at a coworking space in a ceramics studio. But the studio visitors praised it so much, saying they could see my style in it (which hadn’t existed before), that I started to seriously consider pursuing ceramics. And now, here I am, and it's in part thanks to that mug.

Interviewer: How high-quality are the materials you use to make your dishes and jewelry? Are they suitable for long-term use, or can the paint fade or the material crack? What kind of care do these items require?

Toma: I always use high-quality materials and strive to support Ukrainian producers through this. For example, the clay I use comes from Sloviansk. It’s known worldwide for its properties, and although its production is facing significant challenges now, I want to continue using it to support our local producers. The clay undergoes several stages of firing, which makes the items durable and suitable for everyday use. After the final firing, even a small piece of jewelry can only break if you deliberately apply force to it. For coloring, I use engobes, which become so strongly bonded to the piece after firing that it’s difficult to chip the paint, even if you try. The paint can’t fade at all because the piece is glazed after coloring, and glaze is essentially liquid glass. The glaze also adds a glossy finish to my work. A piece might crack only if dropped (which is to be expected) or if it develops "craze lines." The latter happens if, for example, the glaze doesn’t suit the type of clay. In such cases, I sell these items as defective, but if this happens to a customer (a delayed crazing effect), I offer a refund or remake the piece for free. However, I haven’t encountered "crazing" in my practice yet. Caring for ceramics is not much different from caring for regular dishes: avoid exposing them to drastic temperature changes, and wash them regularly (just kidding, wash them when they’re dirty). The only difference is with dishwashers – it's important to use the least chemical-based detergents possible, as harsh chemicals can negatively affect the ceramics. And the environment too! If you follow these simple instructions, the ceramics can be passed down from generation to generation, becoming family heirlooms!

Interviewer: When did you realize you wanted to do this professionally, rather than just for yourself?

Toma: This happened when I visited a coworking ceramics studio. I realized that, unlike painting, working with clay doesn’t require a particular emotional state from me. I can sit down and sculpt no matter what mood I’m in, and I start enjoying the process, regardless of how external factors might affect me. Other visitors and the ceramicists at the studio also praised my work, noting my unique style. It was a shock to me because I had been searching for my style in painting all my life, and with ceramics, it found me with my very first piece!

Interviewer: What interesting orders have you received from customers? Do you only sell what you've already created?

Toma: For the most part, I sell what I have already created, but I am always open to interesting commissions.

Interviewer: What is the most challenging aspect of ceramics?

Toma: The most challenging part is correctly selecting all the materials and the anticipation of the firing process. There are many types of clay, and they fire at different temperatures. There are also many pigments, engobes, glazes, etc. All materials need to be matched correctly; otherwise, an incorrectly chosen glaze for the clay or firing temperature can completely ruin the piece. Another aspect of ceramics is that we don’t see the true colors until the final firing, after which it’s impossible to change or fix anything. The thing is, ceramic paints often look much duller before firing, and sometimes they appear completely different. For example, a green color might look light gray before firing. This means that, although we make testers, we still partly paint "blind". In my case, it’s especially true since I love using many colors. I also mix them together while painting, and the result is always unpredictable. Because of all these factors, waiting for the final firing is the hardest part for me. You wait nearly a day, not knowing how your piece will turn out or if it will even survive the firing process.

Interviewer: What word do you associate with your art?

Toma: The name of my brand is “odd.nook”, which translates to “strange nook”. I associate my art with the word “strange”. My ceramics have their own style; they may seem strange and unusual, but that’s what I love most about them.

Interviewer: What are your future plans?

Toma: I want to create a collection that combines ceramics with other forms of art. Perhaps these will be collaborations with jewelry makers or glassblowers. Another dream of mine is to open my own studio where I can create comfortably and share my experience.

Pictures were taken by Sunday baraarr