MEET OUR SPEAKERS
We’re thrilled to welcome a lineup of inspiring artists who will share their knowledge, insights, and personal journeys with polymer clay, art, and design. The first full day of our event will be devoted to engaging presentations designed to spark creativity and connection.
Valéria Krafčíková
Valéria Krafčíková is a Slovak polymer-clay artist whose colourful, contemporary earrings captivate women of all ages. She blends clean design with playful detail and vibrant colours. Always eager to explore new materials, she combines polymer clay with a variety of mediums to create pieces that are both original and lasting. Having successfully built a business selling her art, she is excited to share her experience in this presentation.
In this talk, Valéria will share with you:
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Why it is essential for artists to take part in local markets.
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How personal interaction with customers shapes your creative growth.
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Practical tips for preparing, presenting, and selling your work in person.
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The value of real-world feedback and how it can inspire future designs.
Why You Should Sell Your Art at Local Markets
Valéria draws on her own experiences to show how face-to-face selling can transform both your art and your confidence. In her talk, she will share how engaging directly with customers provides invaluable insights, builds a stronger connection with your audience, and opens unexpected opportunities for growth, in both art and life.
CARA JANE Hayman
Her passion for the polymer clay medium began in childhood. With a background in science and education, Cara Jane Hayman constantly explores new techniques in jewellery and decorative objects to sculptures and kinetic art, and shares her knowledge through workshops and writing. She has served as President of the British Polymer Clay Guild, as the UK ambassador for Kato Polyclay, and as founder of the UK Polymania event.
In this talk, Cara Jane will share with you:
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Her fascination with automata - moving mechanical devices.
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Examples of automata made from polymer clay by herself and other artists.
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Beginner tips for designing and constructing moving pieces.
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Different ways to create or enhance automata using polymer clay.
Making Polymer Clay Move
Cara Jane Hayman invites you into the playful world of mechanical sculptures that come to life through motion. She will reveal her own journey into creating these moving pieces, demonstrate how polymer clay can be used to craft and embellish them, and share practical advice for building simple mechanisms that become captivating works of kinetic art.
JULIA AGNES
Julia Agnes is a Canadian polymer clay artist whose work celebrates the female form with honesty and depth. Her sculptures embrace texture, movement, and the natural marks of time, challenging the flawless ideals often seen in art and media. By turning away from perfection, Julia invites viewers to see beauty in authenticity and to reconnect with the real stories our bodies tell.
In this talk, Julia will share with you:
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How women’s bodies have been portrayed in art and media, and the impact of these idealised images on our self-perception.
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Her journey as an artist.
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Ways art can become a tool for liberation.
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How lines, curves, and presence act as expressions of life and identity beyond traditional notions of beauty.
Reclaiming the Female Form: One Wrinkle at a Time
In her presentation, Julia will share how art can dismantle unrealistic standards and reveal the richness of real human experience. Through her polymer clay work, she captures the resilience and individuality of women, creating pieces that honour authenticity over perfection.
Blending historical context with her personal journey, Julia reflects on how embracing imperfection and movement allows us to see the female body, and ourselves, with renewed clarity and respect.
EDUARDO FARILLO
Eduardo Farillo is an American polymer clay artist who has been working with the medium since childhood. After briefly selling polymer clay jewelry, he pursued a career in music education and performance. Now, as a first-time father and stay-at-home parent, he has returned to polymer clay with renewed focus. His current work explores faux ceramic pots and intricate polymer clay flowers and plants, blending craftsmanship with organic forms.
In this talk, Eduardo will share with you:
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The intersection of nature and design through polymer clay.
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How vessels and botanical forms coexist in sculptural harmony.
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The aesthetic and symbolic role of faux ceramics in his work.
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The importance of exploration and play in artistic growth.
Nature at Home with Polymer Clay
In "Nature at Home with Polymer Clay," artist Eduardo Farillo invites you into his world of botanical sculpture and faux ceramics. Through this visual and conceptual presentation, Eduardo will share how he reimagines home decor with polymer clay—crafting lifelike plants and vessels that bring a sense of nature indoors.
Blending the organic with the handmade, his work explores the relationship between form and function, and how crafted objects can serve as both support structures and artistic statements. Eduardo will reflect on his process, his influences, and how curiosity and experimentation fuel his creative journey.
MARGITA ALSIŅA
A passionate polymer clay artist, Margita Alsina has been immersed in the medium since 2014. Over the past decade, she has honed a diverse range of techniques, driven by a deep curiosity and commitment to creative growth. Margita thrives on observing how fellow artists interpret their materials and generously shares her own insights with the polymer clay community. Her journey is rooted in exploration, collaboration, and the belief that art is a lifelong learning process.
In this talk, Margita will share with you:
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How art can confront uncomfortable emotions and provoke deeper thought.
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The hidden power of polymer clay as a storytelling medium.
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The balance between intentionality and provocation in artistic expression.
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Why making “unpretty” art can be an act of honesty, courage, and connection.
Art Doesn’t Owe You Pretty: The Ugly Truth in Beautiful Form
In this thought-provoking talk, Margita challenges the notion that art must always be aesthetically pleasing. Drawing from both personal experiences and historical examples, she delves into how art, particularly using polymer clay, can be a vessel for expressing difficult, uncomfortable truths.
Often seen as a purely decorative medium, polymer clay becomes, in Margita’s hands, a means to explore deeper narratives. She reveals how even unsettling or “ugly” objects can carry profound meaning when paired with intention and story. One such example is her “creepy strawberry,” a piece that pushes boundaries and invites reflection beyond surface beauty.
KONSTANTINOS KARALIS
From childhood curiosity to creative entrepreneurship, Konstantinos Karalis has turned passion into purpose through the art of polymer clay. Born in Athens in 1979, his journey took him from design and decoration to founding own brand born in crisis but built on resilience, vision, and heart. Through Pilofori and his creative hub The House, Konstantinos is not only redefining what it means to be an artist in Greece, he’s building a community rooted in respect, originality, and soul.
In this talk, Konstantinos will share with you:
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A behind-the-scenes look at his evolution as a designer and jewelry artist.
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The tension between artistic integrity and business reality.
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The challenges (and comedy) of creative entrepreneurship.
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How missteps, doubts, and plot twists shaped his voice and brand.
The artist killed by the businessman
Konstantinos Karalis will take us on a candid, often humorous, and deeply personal journey through the winding road from passionate creator to reluctant businessman. With sharp insight and unfiltered honesty, Konstantinos reflects on the early ideals that shaped his work—and the reality checks that came with turning art into livelihood.
This presentation won’t be about perfect paths or polished plans. It’s about wrong turns that led to unexpected destinations, mistakes that became milestones, and the chaotic-but-somehow-functional dance between creativity and commerce. Through it all, he explores how identity, intention, and evolution collide in the life of a modern maker.
roberta modulo
Roberta Modulo is a Brazilian artist who moved to Europe during the height of the pandemic. Now based in Vienna, she is navigating the complex realities of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and immigrant life. Attracted by bright colours and statement jewellery, Roberta has been fascinated by the world of polymer clay since 2017 and has been exploring the medium ever since. Currently, she hosts polymer clay workshops in Vienna, creating a space where people can explore their creativity and use polymer clay as a form of self-expression
In this talk, Roberta will share with you:
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How creativity supported her healing and self-discovery.
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The role of jewellery-making in emotional recovery.
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The evolution from private passion to public practice.
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How artistic expression can foster connection, hope, and transformation.
Beauty in the Darkness: The Healing Power of Art
Roberta’s story is one of personal transformation through grief, creativity, and self-expression. After the devastating loss of her son, her passion for jewellery-making — especially earrings — became both a powerful form of healing and a means to express emotions that words could not capture.
What began as a personal hobby evolved into a therapeutic practice and eventually grew into a way of empowering others through teaching and creative community workshops. Her journey highlights how art can serve as a lifeline in the face of grief, helping to reclaim identity, purpose, and connection.
