In the creative studio - Ceramic fantasies by Marek Cecula

Ceramics are all around us, above all they can decorate our interiors with a variety of shapes and colors. Meet Marek Cecula, founder of Modus Design, whose desire to become a ceramicist was born when, at the age of sixteen, he emigrated from his native Kielce to Israel. This passion took him all the way to... New York, before returning to Poland again years later.

Briefly about the history of ceramics

The word ceramics comes from the Greek word "keramos" meaning potters. The first traces of ceramic products dating back to at least 24,000 BC were discovered not far from our country, in Czechoslovakia! They were in the form of animal and human figurines, plates and balls.
The history of traditional Polish ceramics dates back to the 18th century, when August II the Strong opened a ceramics and porcelain manufactory in Meissen. Today, exhibits from that period can be seen in the National Museum in Cracow. After that, more porcelain factories began to emerge. After all, we all know such iconic names as Boleslawiec or Chodzież and Ćmielów. It is with the latter that our today's story will be linked a little more strongly.

First years in Soho, NY 1978

Studio in Brooklyn

Modus Design

Modus's beginnings date back to 1976, when, amid intense artistic activity in New York's Soho, Marek Cecuła sets up a studio. The small ceramic studio is located in a rented space on Sullivan Street. The works from this period are alternative proposals are quickly recognized as contemporary interpretations of this oldest craft and carry a two-pronged attitude - art and utility.(Art & Design)

Achiteapot 1 - Deconstructive form (kettle interpretations)
Designed by Marek Cecula 1982, NY
Porcelain, ceramic tracing paper

Interactive set - Artistic and decorative set
Project Marek Cecula 1988, NY
Porcelain, tracing paper

Memphis set 1
Project Marek Cecula 1990, NY
Porcelain (art objects)

Corundum set "Nectar Set"
Design Marek Cecula 1999, NY
Alumina - a ceramic material commonly used in industry and high ceramic technology and has never yet arrived on the home table. Firing it at 1700*C produces a material of incredible hardness (second in hardness after diamond) that retains transparency and can be colored in specific colors.

Back to the roots

An excess of orders forces the artist to expand and move his studio to Brooklyn. However, even this is not enough - the works are so popular that some new idea is needed to satisfy the market. This is how Modus returns to Poland, the founder establishes cooperation with the best Polish porcelain factories. Since then, the world-famous products of the Polish designer are finally visible and available in Poland as well.

Berta vase and H2O - Flaw decanter with mug
Designed by Marek Cecuła, 2020, Ćmielów Design Studio
Dyed porcelain

Constantin vase
Designed by Edyta Cieloch 2016, Ćmielów Design Studio
Stained porcelain
The irregular form of the vase suggests the shapes of nature, and refers to the aesthetic trend in 20th century art of organic abstraction. It will be perfect in interiors as a sculptural decorative element, even without flowers

Miki - Tea set
Designed by Marek Cecula 2021, Ćmielów Design Studio
Porcelain, ceramic tracing paper, silicone
A dose of humor in design, a tea set that should improve your morning mood

The studio today

In 2013, after years of cooperation, the Polish porcelain factories Ćmielów and Chodzież create the Ćmielów Design Studio together with Modus, where a developmental studio for contemporary porcelain in the heart of a traditional factory is run. It is also a space for experimentation and the introduction of modern technologies into the production of functional and decorative porcelain. The predominant colors here are designed to break up the traditional white, glossy surface.

Porcelain, known to us as a white and shiny material, changes its appearance in the hands of designers. Experimental work is being done in our development activities to create new methods and processes that open up wider possibilities.
In 2014, colored porcelain is introduced - in five colors suitable for high-temperature firing. Objects are cast in colored porcelain mass, which takes on a warm, matte tone after firing. In the collections, the individual colors of the forms subtly complement each other, creating an original harmony of the set.

Knowledge and experience

Marek Cecuła is a world-renowned artist and designer, but also a lecturer. Despite the fact that, as he said himself, "in no university has he been so long to get a diploma". - his experience is vast. He has been sharing his knowledge since his very beginnings, lecturing at some of the world's greatest universities related to ceramics and art. The current ĆDS also runs an educational residency, where students from Poland and abroad can gain industrial experience.

BAU - Tea set inspired by geometry
Designed by Edyta Cieloch 2019, Ćmielów Design Studio.
The teapot and cup as a single solid, form a compact spatial composition. The form built by cutting and combining basic geometric figures - a sphere and a cuboid - refers to the Bauhaus idea of the composition of simple solids, which is still current today

Chinita - a form of interpretation of a classical Chinese vase in rich decoration
Marek Cecula 2016, Ćmielów Design Studio
Porcelain, gold
The decorative effect is achieved by repeated application of decals and multiple firing in a ceramic kiln. As a home decoration, the vase brings the charm of oriental porcelain in a contemporary way

Tradition and modern design

The beautiful story of Marek Cecula's studio shows a path full of passion and love for his profession. It makes us realize how strongly talented and appreciated Polish artists are in the international arena. Thanks to the cooperation with Polish Factories, we can also see that tradition can brilliantly intertwine with modernity and support each other at the same time. Maybe this is the key to the success of Polish design?