Snieguole Vaivadiene (Sniege)

Ceramicist I Thinker I Storyteller

For Sniege, the ceramic process is not merely craft; it is Alchemy and Theatre. Her laboratory is also the stage, which is not a physical location, but rather the transformation process where raw clay is ignited with a soul. Her work is focusing on "metamorphosis" - the precise moment where the matter becomes emotion or story.

Originally from Lithuania and now based in Dublin, Sniege's practice is a synthesis of contrasting worlds and exploration of “other worlds”. Her sculptures live at the intersection of nature, psychology and ancient symbolism.

Drawing from Magical Realism, Surrealism, and Japanese aesthetics, namely, concepts of Setsunai (the bittersweetness of fading moments) and Yugen (the profound mystery of the universe, triggering emotional responses too deep and powerful for words), she finds harmony in the "mix-and-match":

• Anatomic vs. organic form

• Wabi-sabi (beauty of imperfection) vs. Miyabi (refined elegance)

• Traditional vs. modern

Her work aims to evoke "hidden knowledge" inviting the viewer into a deep, meditative dialogue with the subconscious.

The Journey: From Philology to Prima Materia

Sniege's path to ceramic kiln was not linear, but it was always inevitable. Raised in a world defined by beauty of nature and the magical storytelling of her grandmother - a self-taught artist - Sniege was always obsessed with literature, cinema, music and .... science.

Though she pursued Classical Philology at Vilnius University, seeking to understand the world through ancient cultures, and later adjusted her studies to economic profile, spending most of her professional life at the National Central Bank, her creative calling remained a constant undertow.

In her 40s, a fascination with modern Japanese BJD-style art dolls ignited a final transition to ceramics, leading her for four transformative years at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, learning ceramic technologies, and finally shifting from the office to ceramic “Lab” environment.

Her early work quickly caught the attention of national broadcasters and journalists, finding homes in private collections and commercial galleries in her country and internationally. After the global shift of the pandemic, Sniege relocated to Ireland, where she joined the Throwing Shapes studio in Dublin.

Today, she is immersed in her latest milestone "De Prima Materia" - a collection that serves as both a return to the elements and bold step forward in her sculpturalp evolution.

Sniege’s works are collected by those who seek a "living" presence in their spaces - objects that do not just occupy a shelf, but perform a story. She creates for the other creative souls, for "intellectual seekers", who are looking for the philosophical weight and hidden narrative behind the form; for everyone who treat their spaces as personal stage or philosophical chamber, seeking one-of-a-kind souls rather than mass-production.

Sniege: "My collector is someone who is tired of the superficial and wants the "weight", wants "shadow", wants story and deeper conversations. I give them permission to be complex..."