Steinunn Bjarnadóttir

Steinunn Bjarnadóttir is an Icelandic ceramic designer whose work explores the relationship between material, place, and identity. Rooted in the dramatic geology of Iceland and shaped by the architectural forms of cities, her practice brings together structured, architectural design with the raw unpredictability of natural and waste materials. She works primarily through slipcasting and wheel-throwing, selecting the process according to the forms she wishes to create, while incorporating gathered materials such as lava fragments, sand, wild clay, and discarded building matter into clay bodies, slips, and glazes. The resulting objects sit between function and sculpture, balancing precision with chance.

Steinunn first studied Education (B.Ed.) with a specialisation in art, where she discovered her passion for ceramics during an evening course in her final year. This led her to a Diploma at the Reykjavik School of Visual Arts, followed by a BA in Ceramics at Limerick School of Art & Design, Ireland, where she developed her interest in combining traditional processes with materials gathered from nature. She later completed a Master’s degree at Central Saint Martins, London, where her research expanded into experimental uses of waste and found materials.

Her collections, including Alúð, Echo, Brot: Fragment, and Landris, reflect her ongoing dialogue between landscape and architecture, tradition and experimentation. Alongside her design practice, Steinunn also teaches ceramics, sharing her passion for clay and encouraging others to explore its possibilities.