ATELIER ODETTE
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About me...

Odette Frijters

My name is Odette Frijters. I am a ceramicist at Atelier Odette on Herengracht 110 in Leiden.

With clay, I try to create forms that stand on their own and are inspired by nature. As a result, my objects are not so much static or industrial, but rather resemble living organisms.

I sculpt, throw, and work with various types of clay. By changing the movement in the object, the texture, or the color, my work becomes interesting from every angle. The outside of my work is never the same as the inside. Decoration forms an important part of my work.

Nature

Nature is my great source of inspiration. From nature, I take various objects with me, such as stones, shells, and twigs. I use these as decoration on my work. Stones or shapes from nature are a starting point for creating a larger artwork. First, I make a small clay model, and then I develop it further. For inspiration, I therefore keep a large archive of my own shape and texture photos.

In addition to art objects, I enjoy making functional items with decoration, again inspired by nature. In recent years, alongside throwing with stoneware clay, I have been working with porcelain. Porcelain is very pure, and I want to emphasize its translucency by working as thinly as possible.

Artistic and technical development is an ongoing process for me. Standing still is not an option. I am constantly searching for new forms, techniques, colors, and materials. But besides working on my own development, I greatly enjoy interacting with others. Almost daily, I teach others in my studio so that they too can express their own artistic ideas.

Custom Work

I also regularly work on commission. This can involve functional objects, larger art pieces, or items such as an urn, a dinner service, a personal gift, or even a unique corporate gift package. Personal contact with the client is very important to me. Sketches and examples often help enormously to show what something might look like. Ultimately, we should both be happy with the result. And that always works out.

My personal oeuvre is very diverse and consists mainly of series of three or more pieces, ranging from large vases and art objects to extremely thin and translucent porcelain work.

At the moment, I am looking for places where my work can be showcased so that I can exhibit the work of the past years. If you think you can help me with this, please feel free to contact me. I would greatly appreciate it.

Exhibitions

2026:

  • Open Monument Days Leiden, sales and pottery throwing demonstration
  • Sales of cups and art objects, display case Schouwenhove Leiden
  • Exhibition Lichtjes Kunstmarkt, Leiden
  • Galerie Tijd voor Kunst, Oegstgeest
  • Kunstroute Oog voor Kunst, Kortemark Belgium
  • Exhibition Galerie Zône, Leiden
  • Exhibition Bloem en Ui, Museum Rijnsburg

2025:

  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Exhibition Kunst in de Etalage, Leiden
  • Exhibition Lichtjes Kunstmarkt, Leiden
  • Exhibition Galerie Zône, Leiden
  • Exhibition Markt Onder de Linden, Noordwijk

2024:

  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Exhibition Nationale Kunstdagen Gorinchem
  • Exhibition Stadstimmerwerf Leiden
  • Exhibition shop Leiden Made, Leiden
  • Exhibition Galerie de Pomp, Warmond
  • Exhibition de Kulturele Raad, Hillegom

2023:

  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Exhibition shop Waar, Leiden
  • Exhibition Hans Knegtmans, Leiden
  • Ode to Nature, Nationaal Bomenmuseum Gimborn, Doorn

2022:

  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Galerie Zône, Leiden

2021:

2020:

  • OPArtroute.com
  • Etalagekunstmarkt.nl Almelo
  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Ode to Nature, Nationaal Bomenmuseum Gimborn, Doorn
  • Old School Leiden, January exhibition 10 years Atelier Odette

2019:

  • 45 years of Dutch Ceramics, NVK location VASIM Nijmegen
  • Winterfair Naaldwijk
  • OPArtroute.com
  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Galerie de Pomp Warmond

2018:

  • ADAF Amsterdam
  • Keramiekmarkt Dordrecht
  • Landelijk Atelierweekend
  • Keramiekmarkt Dordrecht

2018:

  • Keramiek in 't Park, Zoetermeer
  • Kunstroute Leiden

2017:

  • Keramiek in 't Park, Zoetermeer
  • Kunstroute Leiden
  • Galerie De Reddingbootschuur, Vlieland

2016:

  • Kunstmarkt Leiden

2015:

  • Jubilee Competition Klei in Beweging
  • Galerie KunZst, Maastricht
  • Galerie Art by Mar, Wassenaar

2014:

  • Galerie Zône, Leiden

2013:

  • Keramix, Zoetermeer
  • Galerie Zône, Leiden

2012:

  • Galerie Zône, Leiden

2010:

  • Keramiekmarkt Dordrecht

  • Biennale Vence, France

Sales Points for Odette Frijters' Work

Atelier Odette - Herengracht 110 in Leiden, www.atelierodette.com

Yoga Sucasa - Middelweg 1a in Leiden, www.yogasucasa.nl

Schouwenhove - Porcelain cups and small art objects for sale at Serviceflat Schouwenhove in Leiden.

Education

2026: Tricia Thom, porcelain throwing

2026: Houtstook Ede

2025: Carina Ciscato, porcelain throwing

2024: Moondobang, porcelain throwing

2024: Thomas Berktold, porcelain throwing

2021: Thomas Berktold, porcelain throwing

2020: Petra Wolf, hand-building techniques

2019: Chris Keenan, porcelain throwing

2017–2018: Willy van Bussel, porcelain throwing

2009–2018: Joop Crompvoets, annual pottery course in De Walsberg

2017: Anima Roos, graphic decoration techniques and making transfers

2011–2012: Thomas König, porcelain throwing

2009–2010: Matthieu van Giessen, additional year of pottery

2009–2010: Mieke de Groot, additional year of hand-building

2009: Henk Wolvers, coloring porcelain

2008: Netty van den Heuvel, working with coils

2005–2008: Training SBB Gouda, ceramic techniques hand-building, throwing, and composing glazes