Irina Denev

Irina Denev is a ceramic sculptor based in London. She has developed a unique technique and style that manifests tactile textures and movements of sculptured form infused with sensory perception. Her sculptures reflect the intimate and often delicate nature of her personal journey as an artist living with significant visual impairment. Irina has retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic condition also known as Usher syndrome, which has rendered her legally blind. She has completely lost sight in her left eye, while her right eye offers only a narrow field of vision yet through this limited view, she continues to find glimpses of the world’s beauty.

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Her practice goes far beyond visual form. Irina creates tactile, sensuous pieces, often sculpted in the shape of human bodies. The unglazed clay surfaces resemble bare skin, evoking the raw and sacred essence of the human spirit.

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To Irina, clay represents the earth in its most primal form the original matter from which life springs and to which it inevitably returns. It speaks to a cyclical rhythm of existence, an eternal flow without beginning or end. She coils the clay into delicate, floating lines that spiral and weave across the surface, creating a rich tactile texture. This spiralling motion suggests a sense of continuity of life in constant movement and transformation. As she puts it, “the fabric of life is like the texture of my ceramics, constantly spinning and weaving rich, unique patterns at every moment.”

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“My work speaks to the profound connection between humanity and the universe. I create sensual, highly tactile sculptures bodies that speak for themselves. Like living flesh, they evoke a sensual presence, sensitive skin, and a sacred soul. Each form becomes a vessel: a container for the heart, pulsing with its own rhythm and passion, symbolising the sacred origins of life itself.

The flowing lines in the clay spiral and rise upward, suggesting infinite movement continuous breath and a unique, living pattern.

Through my art, I aim to capture the intensity of the present moment, expressing sensuality, sexuality, and passion as essential elements of being alive. Using my own sculpting technique, I create forms that reflect the bond between the human experience and the infinite—whether that’s the vastness of the cosmos or the timeless cycle of existence. Life is fleeting, but within each moment lies something eternal… something as fragile and as powerful as love and life themselves.” Irina Denev