Q and A with Ceramic Artist Sivan Sternbach

When I first saw Sivan’s balloons at an exhibition by Great Banyan Art, I instantly became a fan. Her iconic balloons are classic, witty and cheerful and have been showcased at well-known venues like Bergdorf Goodman New York, The Israel Museum in Jerusalem, The Ritz Carlton Israel, and many more. Her pieces are also a part of many discerning private collections globally.

Sivan is a professional pastry chef, trained and certified by the FCI in New York City. However, about a decade and a half ago she became interested in ceramics and has never looked back since. Since 2012 she creates her pieces out of her own studio in Tel - Aviv.

Here, the acclaimed artist opens up to us about her beginnings, her process, and her inspirations.

Tell me about where you grew up and how your childhood influenced your thoughts about creativity.

I was born in New York and lived there until the age of 7. As a daughter of Israeli parents we moved back to Israel. But honestly I call myself a late bloomer for everything culture and creative. I started reading books only in my 20s and never stopped after. I started going to galleries and loving and learning about art only in my late 30s. When I became a pastry chef and started making pastries in my 20s, that’s when I was first called and treated as “a creative”.

When and how did you first become interested in ceramics?

In my spare time, about 14 years ago, I attended a ceramic course. I just played with clay and made cups and vases. I loved every minute of it. It felt exactly like I was playing with dough and ignited this sense of joy in me.

Would you say that ceramics is an accessible or inaccessible art form?

I think Ceramic is a pretty accessible form of art. I believe every community has some kind of ceramic classes. It’s one of those activities you either love or hate. One thing is for certain though to make ceramics you must love being a mess most of the time.

Why did you start making balloons?

I had a metal cast balloon hanging in my house that I had bought at a gallery some years before. One fine day, inspired by the metal balloon I thought of making a balloon from clay. I made about 3 and they where lying in my house. I didn’t even hang them. One day, an art curator friend came for coffee and saw them and asked me to make her one. I just gave her one as a gift not thinking in my wildest dreams, that in a week she will ask me to make about 20 more for collectors who wanted one as well. It was really gratifying.

Tell us about your workflow.

When I’m at home I make it a point to go to the studio every day. There is no fixed schedule as such, I can stay 8-10 hours or I can just pop in, fill the kiln, glaze or file some balloons. All my orders are commissioned from 8-12 weeks before so I have enough time to give them the attention they deserve.

Who are some of your current influences?

I travel a lot and also consume a lot of art by going to galleries and museums, reading articles and so on. I think consciously or unconsciously everything influences me.

Sometimes the balance between being creative and pragmatic is tricky to achieve. How do you think you have attained this balance?

My goal was to have a reason to come to my studio everyday and build balloons, it’s like meditation for me. So yes I have been able to create that reason and I am pragmatic in that way. I guess the way to attain that balance is just using you skills, and creating something unique and also placing some boundaries on what you will and will not do. For instance, I am somewhat clear what I will do as a balloon artist and what I will not, this keeps me going and doing what fills my heart and soul.