Saida Fagala

"I sculpt with porcelain and decorate with cobalt blue, slightly emphasizing the features or the body lines. My sculptures are unique and never the same, I love the translucency of the porcelain, its plasticity and the beauty of white color.

 But I am also attracted to terra-cotta clay that has this rich red-brown perfect background for colors and texture. The movement of clay sometimes moves my hand and mind and some improvisation occurs conflicting with my ideas, but it’s always a magical moment when a simple piece of clay transforms into art.

Also use stoneware and Longhorn white."

Primary forming method?

"Hand building, sculpture."

Primary firing temperature?

"Cone 9, Cone 4, Cone 04-05. "

Favorite surface treatment?

"Stains and cobalt blue pigment. "

How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?

"Foelber Pottery Gallery and Instagram. "

"The chance to combine sculpting and painting, I love to feel the clay. Every time I touch it, it tells me a new story. "                  

Did you come to ceramics from a different career? Tell us about your journey to a ceramics career.

"I graduated as an art teacher, then after 5 years in the Baku State Fine Arts Institute, I graduated with MFA in decorative arts, Ceramics was my major."

How have you have taken your experience as a well-established maker in the field and passed that knowledge along to your other artists?

"I was featured by Anya Tish gallery from year 2001- 2006, upon my arrival to Houston. Then I was invited to work with the Center for Contemporary Crafts in Houston, and Hanson gallery. That is how I met Judy Adams and Tom Perry.

I was invited to be a member of the Houston Clay artists association in 2001, and I was a part of it for many years "

What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?

“My friends advised me to be more outspoken to promote my art and follow my passion."