Linde van der Burgh studied Illustration at the University of the Arts Utrecht in the Netherlands. She is currently based in Berlin, where she runs her own studio. Drawing forms the foundation of her practice and serves as a way to process daily experiences and emotions. Working from presence, she combines drawing, ceramics, and performance to give form to what is often intangible. Nature is a key source of inspiration for her work, as she sees strong parallels between natural processes and her own emotional processes. Through material exploration and embodied actions, her work reflects on vulnerability, transformation, and what it means to be human.

How did you first get into ceramics, and what keeps you drawn to this craft?

I first discovered ceramics during my Illustration studies at the University of the Arts in Utrecht. At some point I became curious about giving body to the images I was drawing. That curiosity led me to an internship with a ceramic artist, where I learned the basic skills of the craft. Clay is a natural, alive material that breathes and moves. It responds to touch, to pressure, to time. It aligns beautifully with what I try to express in my work. Ceramics give me endless possibilities to shape the images that appear in my mind.

How would you describe the style or feeling of your ceramic work?

My ceramics are colourful and rooted in nature. They are deeply connected to personal and emotional experiences. Often I feel like they belong to another world; poetic, dreamy and a bit mystical. My work explores the connection between body, nature, and emotion: the place where the outer and inner world intertwine. Through these pieces I try to give form to moments of unity, reflection and transformation.

What inspires the shapes, textures, or forms you create?

Nature is a big source of inspiration for my work. I love studying leaves, seeds, trees and vegetables. Their shapes, lines, and details form the foundation of my visual language, both literally and symbolically.

Can you walk us through your process, from a lump of clay to a finished piece?

Every piece has its own rhythm and way of becoming. Sometimes a very clear image arrives in my mind, often born from a personal process I’m moving through. I need to sit with the feeling first, understand it, for it to slowly find its shape. When the image is ready, I map out step-by-step how to build it in clay, and I begin. Right now I’m working on a process, where the material is the leader. I start with a loose idea and let the clay guide me, one small decision at a time. Throughout the making, I often step back to look, listen, and feel what the piece is asking for. It’s a conversation rather than a plan.

You also draw, how does drawing fit into your creative routine, and does it influence your ceramic work?

Drawing within my creative practice is where the raw expression appears first. It is like a diary where I talk to myself and my world comes alive. The subjects that come up here are the base for all my work and apply to ceramics as well. Still, drawing and ceramics are two different languages for me. The spatial quality of clay stands on its own, it has its own voice. Therefore it allows me to access something that I could never enter with a drawing.

What materials or techniques are you currently experimenting with in ceramics?

Currently I am experimenting with activating my sculptures by movement. I engage with them physically in space and let their energy guide me. The ceramic sculptures are not just static objects here, they are partners in an ongoing creationship. They gain an additional dimension and consolation in space. The performance emerging out of this experiment will be shown in KAOS on the 26 of February.

Is there a piece you’ve made that feels especially meaningful or represents a turning point for you?

Yes, ‘’The t(h)ree sisters’’, this is the first piece I made after moving into KAOS. The sisters represent my female family tribe, sculpted out of clay with long braided yarn hair. They can stand close together or far apart, look toward or away from one another. The braids create lines, patterns or intertwine. This piece feels especially meaningful to me because it marked a turning point of my work becoming more dynamic and multimedia. Something that I had a longing for and was made possible by my own new studio space. ‘’The t(h)ree sisters’’ marked my beginning at KAOS and form the center piece of the performance that I will be presenting.

What brought you to KAOS, and how does being part of a creative community shape your practice?

I was longing for a place where my drawings, ceramics, and movement practice could exist together instead of being scattered across different locations. In my search for a new studio KAOS crossed my path. It is an absolute blessing. KAOS is a vibrant, dynamic place filled with possibilities. Having all materials and workspaces (wood, metal, ceramics) under one roof makes my practice feel much more fluid and complete. If I have an idea that requires another material, I can simply try it. I’m grateful for all the beautiful people who help, share their knowledge, and make the community a beating heart. Being part of KAOS hasn’t only expanded my creative practice, it has enriched my life.

Instagram: @lindedoingart

Photos © Linde van der Burgh