Women Who Create is an ongoing portraiture project all shot in B&W in my studio in Woodstock, Cape Town. I love to connect with other creatives and see what motivates them and find out what is behind there work.
Alexia Klompje is a South African ceramicist who I first met before her clay-days when she was in fashion styling.
I’d describe Alexia as a ceramicist, an artist, a healer & a storyteller.
She creates ceramic pieces and hosts workshops that both tell her story, share her learnings, make connections & aim to inspire others. And this is her story…
It all started in 2012 when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Upon removal I was left unable to move the right side of my body.
I could barely leave my apartment, the recovery was slow, I was depressed & felt lost. As a creative person I desperately needed something to do with my hands whilst I healed. I had been working as a stylist for many years and loved my job. Unsure of what that creative thing was, I had a dream one night and in it i was told I needed to start working with clay. And so the journey began!
Playing with clay allowed me to express myself, tell my story and heal. Through clay I truly met myself, explored my creativity & discovered my soul path. And Klomp Ceramics was born.
I now create pieces and collections of work that express both my minimalistic design aesthetic, and my personal story, experiences & connection to self and spirit. The pieces I create are organic, imbued with emotion and a meaningful message. I hope to inspire others through this story whilst creating beautiful handmade contemporary ceramic pieces.
To date I’ve launched many collections & ranges under my brand, have worked on numerous collaborations, exhibited and been featured in various publications and online media both locally and abroad.
Currently I am moving into a more personal space, changing the way I make and my clay offerings as I evolve, grow & shift as a conscious human being.
My story and experiences now also inspire me to hold workshops where I guide and facilitate true reconnection and healing with the creative self through clay work.
I currently work & sell from my studio & shop at 114 Upper Mill Street, Vredehoek, Cape Town.
Finish this sentence: I create because…?
It’s who I am.
What is your motto?
“Do what you love. Love what you do.” I saw it on a bumper sticker and it was the catalyst for a massive life transformation!
Do you have pet peeves?
Yes, Inauthenticity is my worst.
When and where are/where you happiest?
With my daughter, at home, out in nature, meditating, practicing yoga, playing with clay, eating delicious food, connecting to others meaningfully.
What is your most treasured possession?
A black & white sketch my husband drew when he was a child of Paris which ended up being made into an official YSL campaign poster.
What do you do to help put you into your optimal creative space?
I connect with the Source, the Divine, my Higher Self.
What does your (physical) creative space look like?
White, light, real, neat but dusty & inspiring.
Name a few quirks that others may not know about you?
I can burp on queue. I have weird long middle toes like ET fingers.
When you’re in your ultimate creative space what word would you use to describe the experience?
Heavenly.
I’m bursting with excitement to launch my new works. Although I feel I need to start calling them my new plays because since making this shift in what I’m making it just doesn’t feel like work anymore. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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At this time of uncertainty one thing I’m certain of; there is a place in this world for meaningful art, creations, connections and joy. More so than ever. And this is what these new works of mine represent.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I started them at the beginning of this year when I started my own personal transformation & spiritual awakening. Months before Covid-19 directly affected my life I intuitively knew that my life and how I moved through it needed to dramatically change. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And so my extremely challenging but beautiful journey within began. And these magical pieces were born. To share with you. At this most important time.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The new chapter to my story.⠀
