Sand 01 – Sculptural Vessel
by Sofia Aguas Ceramics · Lisbon, Portugal

Sofia Águas is a ceramic artist, designer, researcher and professor. Her ceramic practice began in 2013 after relocating with her family to Santiago, Chile. What started as a personal pursuit to cultivate focus and balance became a turning point, reconnecting her with the knowledge of the hand and the expressive potential of clay. Time spent in Madrid, Belfast and Cardiff further expanded her understanding of material culture, shaping a distinctive practice grounded in materiality, restraint and presence. Rather than imposing predetermined forms, she develops each piece through an ongoing dialogue with clay, allowing its inherent qualities and behaviour to guide the making process. Working without moulds, each vessel is hand-built and unique, occupying the space between function and sculpture, where tactility, balance and emotional resonance play a central role. Alongside her studio practice, Sofia is a researcher and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon. Her artistic practice and research intersect through a shared interest in materiality, making and design knowledge. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including Ceramic Art London, Révélations (Paris), and galleries in London, Madrid and São Paulo. She lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal.