I am Tatev, an Armenian ceramic artist living and creating in Columbia, Maryland. My odyssey with clay began in 2004, while I was studying at the Academy of Arts in Yerevan. It all started with sculpture, then slowly and harmoniously transitioned to wheel throwing. All of my creations are the result of my endless passion for this practice.
Kav means "clay" in Armenian. There was a time when "kav" was the only word I knew for clay, and it was only a word then. By the time I learned its other names in many other languages, clay had become a way to self-discovery and self-expression.
I take inspiration from things I notice and regularly check in with nature to maintain my creativity. Music and literature stir my imagination and power up my creativity. A little phrase in a sonata or a sentence about such a phrase may inspire an entire collection. The clay in my studio is consistently exposed to music, both live and recorded. These sound waves are essential in this art, as I believe that clay—like many of us—centers and communicates better with some quality music.
