Lokal Creators / Katy Hertell

Katy Hertell is a sculptor living in Helsinki. She has worked with primarily ceramics, stoneware and earthenware, since the early 90’s. She draws inspiration from Eastern and Greek mythology, from the animal world, from children and from Nature, in creating hand-built sculptures. Many know her unique Luonnonsuojelija (Nature Protector) sculptures, which double as flower pots containing a piece of the land. Katy is the mother of Lokal’s founder, Katja Hagelstam, and it has been our pleasure to have the works of a third generation presented at our gallery. These photos accompanied by a short interview are from a recent visit to her at her studio at the Cable Factory in Helsinki.

Lokal Creators / Katy Hertell

Katy Hertell is a sculptor living in Helsinki. She has worked with primarily ceramics, stoneware and earthenware, since the early 90’s. She draws inspiration from Eastern and Greek mythology, from the animal world, from children and from Nature, in creating hand-built sculptures. Many know her unique Luonnonsuojelija (Nature Protector) sculptures, which double as flower pots containing a piece of the land. Katy is the mother of Lokal’s founder, Katja Hagelstam, and it has been our pleasure to have the works of a third generation presented at our gallery. These photos accompanied by a short interview are from a recent visit to her at her studio at the Cable Factory in Helsinki.

Lokal: From where do you draw your inspiration for your works?

Katy: “I get my inspiration from Nature, especially animals. I feel we have so much to learn from the animals that in many ways are wiser than us humans.”

L: What are some important principles in your creative process?

K: “It’s important to me to be totally present when I work, which functions best when I’m alone in the studio. Then I can work very intuitively, and just let the clay find the way.”

L: Do you have a relationship to your works as individual pieces?

K: “Some works do become important to me personally, especially when I feel satisfied with what I’ve created.”

L: What lead you to working with ceramics? What significance does the material have in your practice?

K: “Having tried other materials like stone, wood and concrete, I ended up working with clay, which I feel is a living material. I am fascinated by the possibilities that clay offers, and the unpredictability of the material. When starting something new, I seldom have a clear picture of what it is I want to create. I trust that the clay knows. After the firing, the ready piece is at first glance a surprise, to which one has to get used to – and either accept or reject.”

Shop: Katy Hertell’s Works

Explore: Lokal Creators

Lokal Creators / Didi NG Wing Yin

Didi NG Wing Yin is an awarded wood artist based in Helsinki, originally from Hong Kong. He centres on woodworking in unique sculptural furniture and crafts characterised by his distinctive carving techniques. We visited Didi at Minestrone Workshop as he was preparing his last pieces for his exhibition Not Just Something.

Lokal Creators / Armi Teva

Armi Teva is a visual artist and designer living in Helsinki. Teva operates in various fields, including sculpture, illustration and public art pieces. The works are united by a playful style, bold use of colours and a passion for drawing. Ceramics is one material close to Teva. She held an exhibition of ceramic reliefs on Lokal’s White Wall at the end of 2024, and we visited her studio as she was wrapping up the year.

Lokal Creators / Réka Király

Réka Király is a visual storyteller. Born in Budapest, Hungary, and she currently lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. Kiraly’s works capture the delicate individualism and uniqueness of people in the form of plants. These portraits are dialogues showing the emerging repetitive elements in nature. We visited her home studio in connection to her Lokal White Wall exhibition Seedling. 

Lokal Creators / Saija Starr

Saija Starr is a painter living in Helsinki. Recent works depict nature and human nature, memories and memories of places that have left a strong trace in memory. Starr’s painting style is expressive, and colours play a most important role.We visited her studio just as the last coat of paint was drying on her pieces to be included in her Lokal White Wall exhibition, Tranquility.