Arek Szwed

Polish ceramicist, sculptor, and designer Arek Szwed (b. 1969) is recognized for an expressive, material-led practice that subverts technical porcelain casting. Based in Lublin, Szwed abandoned corporate life to establish his ceramic atelier, exploring porcelain's physical tensions, glaze interactions, and tactile storytelling. Szwed achieved international design acclaim as part of the creative collective behind Marek Cecuła’s Modus Design and the Ćmielów Design Studio. Renowned for combining traditional hand-casting with experimental glaze manipulations, his work includes the celebrated Touch of Line porcelain tableware, sculptural droplet vessels, and surreal figurative earthenware. His designs highlight the accidental beauty of kiln firing, fluid slip-casting, and raw clay bodies.