Boo! Or should we say roar? Maybe even squeak? The answer is all of the above when it comes to Lisa Agnetun’s ceramic ghosts, who masquerade as walruses, octopi, and even blocks of cheese with mice.
Based in Gothenburg—or, as Agnetun aptly refers to it, Ghostenburg—the Swedish ceramicist (previously) sculpts an ensemble of tiny specters that don elaborate outfits. Often in pairs or groups of three, the adorable figures role play as various mammals, sea creatures, and sometimes snacks.
Although ghosts are a common symbol surrounding Halloween, Agnetun emphasizes that her spirits are not entirely tied to the autumn holiday. “My ghosts are not for Halloween,” she explains. “They are for life.”
Experimenting with an array ceramics techniques from handbuilding to mixing different glazes, the artist’s sculptures are a love letter to clay. “I love how this inorganic, lifeless material allows me to create something tangible that, by the end of the process, feels like it inhabits a soul! All unique but still alike. Just like we are,” Agnetun says.
Agnetun is preparing for an exhibition next summer and updates her Etsy shop every month. Keep an eye out for announcements on her website and Instagram.
