Hand-sculpted stoneware object by Anna Riess
This clay sculpture takes the form of a hand—an intimate exploration of gesture, femininity, and transformation. Crafted from marbled stoneware and coated with a flamingo-pink engobe, the piece features delicately engraved red hearts at the tip of a single nail. The high-gloss glaze lends a subtle patina, amplifying both its ornamental and emotional resonance.

Drawing inspiration from nail design and the cultural symbolism of hands, Riess reflects on the performative power of nails, the fragility of be(com)ing a woman, and the strength embedded in care and decoration. Both sculptural and functional, the piece can be displayed as an object of affection—or used as a candleholder, casting flickers of light across its soft, curved surface.

Anna Riess is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural anthropologist based in Vienna. Her work explores themes of embodiment, emotion, and interbodily relations through materials like clay, metal, and textiles. Deeply influenced by her experience of motherhood, she transforms everyday objects into symbolic forms - one of her gestures she describes as the “nippelization of the everyday.”

Riess is the co-founder of the Clayground retreat and the creator of Circle of Clay, a workshop series she has led at institutions such as the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna or the Hotel Kai36 in Graz. Her workshops invite participants—regardless of prior experience—to develop their own sculptural language through hands-on engagement with clay.

Her sculptural objects possess a strong visual identity and tactile presence, marked by a recognizable aesthetic and a willingness to push the boundaries of material behavior. Especially drawn to the tactility of clay, Riess explores how movement and fluidity can be captured in form—leaving the trace of the hand visible in its hardened state. With a strong interest in local materials and interdisciplinary exchange, her practice bridges artistic, social, and ecological concerns in both conceptual and applied ways.