Growing up in the picturesque city of Anina, Romania, surrounded by forests, mountains and lakes, Cosmin Ciofirdel discovered the transformative power of clay as a child, playing on a riverbank. This early fascination evolved into a lifelong education in ceramics. He pursued specialised art studies, training intensively in ceramics at art high school and continuing at university level. From those first encounters with clay to formal training, the direction remained constant.
Cosmin works from his studio at Kingsgate Workshop Trust in northwest London. Working primarily in stoneware and porcelain, his practice examines how form, colour and rhythm evoke balance, emotion and heightened spatial awareness. Rooted in a dialogue between structure and movement, the work reflects both precision and sensitivity. Each vessel becomes a meditation on form and presence, and a study of how clay can hold emotion, memory and space.
Cosmin’s practice centres on wheel-thrown vessels, occasionally combined with hand-building techniques. The work develops through steady repetition and a close, intuitive engagement with clay. He pays particular attention to proportion and balance, allowing each form to find its presence through measured adjustments. Colour plays a central role, with layered glaze applications used to deepen and strengthen the character of each vessel.
Alongside his studio practice, he is also an educator and the Founder and Creative Director of Ceramics Sculpture Studio. Founded in 2015, the studio offers a vibrant and versatile curriculum of classes, workshops, memberships and masterclasses. Through this platform, he shares his passion for clay and supports hundreds of students each year, fostering creativity and confidence through direct engagement with clay.