MEET OUR SPEAKERS
We are excited to present you with an incredible lineup of dynamic speakers who are going to share their expertise and passion for polymer clay during the Polymer Week 2023 event.
During the first day of the event, you’ll have the opportunity to attend thought-provoking discussions, demonstrations, and engaging storytelling.
ARNOLD GOLDMAN & ALEX MADEJ
POLYMER INNOVATIONS WITH COSCLAY
Until just a few years ago, the world of polymer clay lacked the flexibility and resilience required to craft intricate, long-lasting, and shatter-proof creations. Join Arnold Goldman, the creator of Cosclay and Monster Clay, and Alex Madej, a graphic designer and emerging 3D artist, as they discuss innovations and creative breakthroughs with polymer clay.
VIDEO PRESENTATION
FRODE BOLHUIS
WORKING FROM INTUITION
As a sculptor with a passion for polymer clay, Frode's art revolves around refined figures in unique color combinations, influenced by ancient cultures, surrealism, and design. With his love for sculpting and bright colors, he naturally combines various materials such as polymer clay, textiles, plastics, bronze, and gold. In this presentation, Frode is going to talk about his story and the development of art where intuition became the main tool he works with.
CHRISTINE DUMONT
ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVES
France-based artist Christine Dumont loves mystery stories, and her true fascination lies in the enigma of design. Materials possess inherent physical, visual, and emotional traits. Drawing from her experience with diverse mediums such as polymer, metal, paper, and wood, Christine will show you in her presentation how to emphasize these characteristics while harmoniously integrating potentially disparate elements into your composition.
Exploring this intricate balance can unlock artistic freedom, providing you with a versatile design strategy for approaching alternative materials.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
LUCY ŠTRUNCOVÁ
Have you ever wondered about the introduction of polymer clay to the world? Are you curious about the significant moments that shaped its trajectory and propelled it to become a favorite medium among artists worldwide?
Through her extensive research, Lucy Štruncová has gained invaluable insights that will open your eyes to the captivating world of polymer clay, its community, and its evolution. You will certainly enjoy this presentation, revealing the key milestones of polymer clay's history that have influenced its growth.
KATHLEEN DUSTIN
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS
It’s important to have a talent for success in the art world, but it’s not the most important thing. Plenty of talented people are not successful. So what does it take? Based on a study at Harvard University, Kathleen will surprise you with the keys to success in this presentation.
RITA BOTELHO
MINIMALISM IN POLYMER CLAY
It is often the case that the most simple-looking objects require a substantial amount of time to bring to life. Minimalism may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Portuguese artist Rita Botelho highly values simplicity, unpretentiousness, and focus on materials, shapes, and colors that are typical of this style. She values timeless designs and quality pieces that can last a lifetime.
Rita will focus her talk on minimalism in polymer clay, and the beauty of this material in its natural form. Rita believes that polymer clay is a super material that allows making the maximum with the minimum: its colors are limitless, it is extremely resistant and flexible, its very light, the design possibilities are endless and technical issues such as attaching metal studs to polymer clay pieces can be solved without glues or resins. With the right knowledge, everything is possible to create which makes polymer clay a dream material for our creative minds.
SARA AMRHEIN
THE POWER OF PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Living in Florence, Sara Amrhein's romantic polymer clay art is largely inspired by the opulence of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, with a fresh approach and vibrant color palette. Sara has a studio and storefront in Florence where she creates and sells her work. Throughout her years as a jewelry artist, she has participated in fairs, jewelry shows, markets, and also appeared in a TV show, Meet Your Makers Showdown on Discovery+.
In her presentation, Sara will talk about her experience in television, and how it helped her grow as an artist and challenged her in unexpected ways. She will also talk about her experience in having a public space to show and create her work.
What do Luke Skywalker or Frodo Baggins have in common with the creative process? Although you might think they have nothing in common, the creative process and their epic stories follow a parallel path. Spanish artist Ana Belchí will talk about the stages we all go through when creating something. With Ana’s unique approach, viewing it from the perspective of a game and the hero embarking on a journey, you will undoubtedly find this speech inspiring!