I started with Ceramics in 1992 in a workshop in Faenza in Italy trying to manage the stress caused by my studies in Veterinary Medicine, which I abandoned soon. Ceramic art had won me over. I knew that was my path. I returned to Greece for a while, attended ceramic workshops in Athens and Sifnos.
A little later I am leaving for the Netherlands. I immediately start attending ceramics workshops and techniques with famous teachers and soon I am located at the Free Academy of Arts in The Hague, De Vrije Academie Werkplaats voor Beeldende Kunsten. The place I will always remember, not only as an Art Academy, but as a school of life. I met amazing people from all over the world and learned to dislike competition.
During the same period I traveled to various destinations continuing to seek the knowledge and study sculpture and contemporary ceramics.
I have taught Ceramics, to children and adults and several times this was done non-profit for children with special needs as well as people living in psychosocial rehabilitation structures.
I have participated in several group exhibitions, many of them for public benefit.
I have participated in art projects of other artists.
I have occasionally installed works with social and environmental messages in public spaces.
I am constantly experimenting with clay. With the form, with the mixing of natural, industrial and other materials, with glazes and oxides. I can’t stop experimenting with both electric oven and open fire grilling techniques.
After over thirty years what I am most interested in is the expression of my inner truth by letting the clay the material I identify with, guide me.
Ecology, the defense of political and social rights and the defense of the rights of immigrants and refugees concern me.
I have participated in missions in war zones, documenting the horrors of wars that have engraved on my memory.
I live in my olive grove in Kastrosykia of Preveza with view the endless blue of the Ionian Sea. This is where I have my art workshop. For more than half of my life I have been involved in the rescue of wild animals.
I feel immense gratitude that my work was the subject of inspiration. And so was written a thesis “The artistic ceramics of Pela Kalogirou in Visual arts. Adhesions of microcosm macrocosm” by Spyros G. Brikos. Doctor, writer, Min. Dr of the School of Fine Arts, University of Ioannina (Department of Visual Arts & Art Sciences). Was published in the Greek art magazine “Mandragoras” on November 2022 and in Academia education papers.
