2026
Honorable Mention
Janina Myronowa
My work explores presence, vulnerability, and empowerment through figurative ceramic sculpture. I create anatomically misshapen forms – clunky, chubby, and unexpected bodies – that carry distinct personalities and emotional states. By resisting idealized representations of the body, my figures embrace awkwardness, softness, and imperfection as sources of strength and authenticity.
Characterized by delicate surfaces and quiet, intimate gestures, the sculptures invite viewers to reconsider visibility, particularly of emotions, relationships, and identities that are often overlooked or marginalized.
Through subtle humor and bold, graphic color schemes, I approach my work as a three-dimensional graphic novel. Recurring motifs include familial relationships, parents and children, partnerships, and pets – subjects drawn from everyday life that carry deep emotional resonance. By translating these moments into ceramic form, I aim to create work that feels sincere and encouraging empathy, reflection, and connection.
