We’re excited to highlight Amelia Johannsen, the talented winner of our “Kil’n It” ceramics open call. Amelia’s ceramic art beautifully captures the profound, ever-changing bond between humans and nature, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and reconnect.
Artist Amelia Johannsen shaping transformation into tactile beauty in her Barcelona studio.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Amelia discovered ceramics at the age of seven when her mother signed her up for a class to keep her busy during law school. What began as a simple activity became an anchor for Amelia, providing a sense of grounding throughout her life. Although initially not pursuing ceramics professionally, Amelia found solace in clay once again after the loss of her mother—a medium through which she could reshape her grief into meaningful creation.
Amelia Johannsen’s inviting Barcelona studio—a space where creativity thrives, nature inspires, and ceramics come to life.
Today, Amelia’s vibrant studio in Barcelona, her home since 2005, buzzes with experimentation and creative evolution. Drawing inspiration from her Pacific Northwest upbringing and Barcelona’s dynamic culture, she blends sustainable practices with bold innovation. Her work ranges from tactile functional vessels to evocative sculptures and intricate mosaics—each piece echoing a commitment to storytelling, resilience, and transformation.
Amelia’s creative philosophy revolves around nature’s resilience and its parallels to human strength. Her art often mimics natural metamorphoses: clay shifting from wet to dry, fragile to sturdy. “We often forget that we are nature—we’re not separate from it,” Amelia explains. “Nature’s ability to adapt and persist reminds me that we are part of that cycle. My work reflects this connection through organic textures, flowing forms, and the materials I use.”
Her intuitive process thrives on experimentation, mixing materials and integrating found objects like shells, rocks, and broken ceramics. Each creation is an opportunity for controlled chaos and discovery. “I love letting the process lead me somewhere unexpected,” Amelia says. “My approach is a mix of curiosity and spontaneity.”
Amelia seamlessly navigates between functional ceramics, sculpture, and mosaics, allowing these different forms to influence each other organically. “Functional ceramics offer intimate, daily interactions, sculpture allows exploration on a larger scale, and mosaics represent fragmentation and renewal,” she shares. “Nothing is ever truly wasted—just transformed. My process, like nature, is cyclical.”
Her artistic journey is distinctly shaped by her dual influences—Portland’s emphasis on sustainability and craft, and Barcelona’s historic charm and vibrant mosaic legacy. The juxtaposition of lush forests and sunny Mediterranean coasts emerges vividly in the diverse textures and forms Amelia creates.
Ultimately, Amelia hopes her ceramics encourage deeper connections—both tactile and emotional. “I hope people feel something—curiosity, grounding, or reflection. My work isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about texture, touch, and storytelling,” she says. ” And if nothing else, I hope it reminds them that imperfection is beautiful—because the best things in nature (and in life) are rarely perfect. “
Explore more of Amelia Johannsen’s captivating ceramics on her Artrepreneur profile, and discover how she continues to shape transformation into tangible beauty.
