Organic ceramics are trending: This is the Helsinki sculptor to keep your eye on

“Since a young age, I’ve been very much drawn to all things visually and aesthetically pleasing, yearning to surround myself with them,” says 26-year-old Elena Palomo. “From what I wear to how I decorate my home, it’s always been important to have pieces that really speak to me.” As we talk, the sculptor is lounging on a minimal sofa in her Helsinki home, her sleepy dog Jimmy curled up beside her.

Two years ago, when the world was still gripped by the pandemic, Palomo decided that it was time to act on a long- standing dream and create something of her own. “I just felt like I had a strong need to express myself,” she says. “My grandmother made clothes and painted a lot, so maybe the creativity stems from there.” Her two home countries have also had a profound impact: Finland, with its world-famous design and glass art, and Spain, with its thriving fine art scene.

When choosing a medium to pursue, Palomo went for ceramics, as “it seemed very accepting and appreciative of imperfections, and somehow very grounding”. Like many others who have gotten into crafts during the last couple of years, Palomo started learning the ins and outs of pottery by herself, with good old YouTube tutorials to help with basic techniques. “My first workspace was my kitchen table,” she says. “And I think I even surprised myself with how quickly I learned and how fast I was incorporating complicated techniques into my works.”

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Although Palomo started off by crafting simplistic designs, such as vases, her work swiftly took on a more sculptural approach and moved toward abstract pieces. Fine-tuning her skills further in ceramics classes, she began to form her own design language. Working solely with clay, Palomo says her pieces often reflect her state of mind during their creation. Elegant, free-flowing shapes meet a touch of quirkiness, while an earthy colour palette brings a sense of calm.

For Palomo, inspiration can be found any where. It could be a shape she spots in nature, a random space she visits, or another artist’s work. Greats like Barbara Hepworth, Valentine Schlegel and Antoni Tàpies are amongst her biggest influences. “The best part of my work definitely is the whole construction process and seeing my ideas come to life,” the artist says. “Then, seeing my piece finding its place in a new home just tops it all off.”

Her Instagram, @e.s.v_palomo, has proved to be the perfect place for the artist to showcase her creations, and it’s also where galleries and art shops across Europe have spotted her work. Last year saw Palomo’s debut in Berlin, while this year, her pieces will be on display in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Although Palomo is not a full-time artist yet (she’s also working as a creative content marketing specialist for Finnish Design Shop), she tells me it’s something she daydreams about. Her first reaction when she found out about being featured in Vogue Scandinavia? “I couldn’t believe it when I got the message,” she says, smiling. “It was definitely a pinch-me moment.”

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