Imperfect Loves by Madalena Macedo

Imperfect Loves is a celebration of ceramic artistry, embracing the joy of modelling clay. Flaws, cracks, and imperfections are not hidden but instead celebrated, imbuing each piece with a unique sense of beauty and magic. The imperfections give voice and soul to the sculptures. They speak for themselves and to each other. They have thick bodies, marked by tools and fingers. Some were born from the pieces of clay that accumulate on the work site, others were reborn from shards, but all are unique.

Within these works are echoes of the artist’s life: the joyful aspirations of a child longing to dream and take flight; whimsical, enchanted figurines; and the reflective awe of an adult confronting a world in decay. In this collection, you can smell the scent of wet earth and crushed grapes as you wait for the end of the batch. Clay was mixed with literature, smiles and memories were kneaded, stories were told and happiness was born.

Imperfect Loves is the memory of Barcelos kept by the eternal child that lives in the ceramist and by the warm embrace of friendship.