Martha Lucía Páez Villamizar

26 years ago I discovered my passion for clay. Since then, I have been inspired to create pieces that decorate and fill spaces with life. I started in 1995 in the USA. For 3 years I focused on the study of ceramics and its different techniques.
I returned to Colombia and joined the ARTIERRA Ceramists Collective. There I learned about the benefits and problems of being a ceramist in my country. Seeing that there are no governmental entities interested in teaching the trade and that there is no interest from the companies that supply ceramic materials for ceramic artists. With ARTIERRA until 2010 we tried to make up for these shortcomings.
In 2009 I founded “ORIGEN Estudio Cerámico”, in which I taught ceramics classes to adults and children and conducted workshops on ceramic process techniques.
I have participated in the ENCUENTROS DE CERÁMICA ARTÍSTICA COLOMBIANA (ECAC) held in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 of the UNAL of Colombia.
I develop unique and original pieces in hand modeling and wheel; which are glazed and burned at high temperature in a reduction atmosphere in a gas kiln. I do research with PaperClay and Terra Sigillata to make pieces that require special shapes.

Born on December 20, 1967 in the city of Bogota, Colombia.
Her beginnings in ceramics were in 1995 in Rensselaer County Council for the Arts (RCCA); Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, New York and in Dutchess County Community College, Poughkeepsie, New York until 1999.
I returned to Colombia in 2000 and created my workshop at Finca Hacienda Buenavista, Sopó, Cundinamarca called “SIGILLATA”. In this year I met several ceramists who had studied abroad and with them we created the “Association of Ceramists ARTIERRA”. The purpose of this association was to transmit the acquired knowledge to the members and create opportunities to exhibit their works and generate contacts to obtain ceramic materials locally.
I attended courses on the preparation of high and low temperature glazes and under glaze, Japanese techniques on the ceramic wheel, RAKU burning workshop, plaster mold making, slab object making, low temperature burning workshop in Sawdust Fired, ceramic painting workshop, ceramic and glass serigraphy seminar, construction and burning of paper kiln and construction of musical objects (UDUS), among others.
I have been interested in learning the ceramic processes of different techniques trying to perfect my work. I have been inspired by nature. Its textures and colors have been captured in my pieces.
I created a space to teach classes together with 3 ceramists (2009 – 2011) called “Origen Ceramic Studio”.
In the year 2022, I participated in the organization of the ENCUENTRO DE CERÁMICA ARTÍSTICA COLOMBIANA (ECAC) 2022; made in conjunction with the Universidad Nacional, Universidad Distrital and Universidad del Rosario of Colombia.
Currently I dedicate myself to my work in my personal studio “SIGILLATA Ceramica” in Bogota. With which I seek to show the local talent and spread the craft in my environment.

Country: Private Address

Artist Category: Ceramic Artists

Clay body: