The ceramic language of Margit Denz – sculptures full of soul

cleadenz
6 days ago
2 min read

In her light-filled studio in Dornbirn, Mag. art Margit Denz —a true master of ceramic sculpture—sculpts stories from clay. With artistic dedication, she imbues material forms with expression and presence: Her sculptures are not mute objects, but emotional messengers that appear both powerful and delicate.

Margit Denz (born 1964 in Dornbirn) embarked on an early path into the visual arts: She graduated from a technical school for wood and stone sculpture in Innsbruck (1980–1984) and continued her studies at the renowned University of Applied Arts in Vienna , where she earned a diploma in ceramics and industrial design in 1990. After twelve years in Vienna, the artist returned to her hometown in 2002, where she has lived and worked in her studio and gallery ("Herzkammer") ever since.

Ceramic sculptures with expression

Margit Denz's work extends far beyond the well-known DenzHearts: In her studio, she prefers to model clay sculptures in which expression, body forms, and emotions become sculptural reality. One example: "Soul of Insensitivity" – a figurative sculpture that, in its tension between defensiveness and vulnerability, makes a powerful statement about human duality.

Her ceramic works have been exhibited internationally – for example in Barcelona, Lisbon, and Tokyo – and have been recognized by both museums and critics.

Craftsmanship meets intuition

In an interview, Denz describes her creative process: She acts spontaneously, following her intuition—"from the gut," but with full commitment and discipline. Her passion for clay goes back a long way: As a child, she was fascinated by watching potters at work, sculpting her own figures, and learning early on the patience and stubborn perseverance required by ceramics—especially when a piece breaks in the kiln.

Art education with heart

Margit Denz regularly invites interested parties to get creative themselves: In her modeling courses in her studio, participants learn to create figurative sculptures from clay – without any prior experience and in an atmosphere that is both inspiring and relaxing. Her sensitive guidance allows people to blossom in the process – and at the end, they can proudly hold their own work in their hands.