Bijo

Ioulia Chante is an architect and ceramicist whose artistic practice centers on product design, with clay as her primary medium. Born and raised near Thessaloniki, Greece, she spent her academic life in Xanthi, a town with rich Eastern Influences in North-East Greece studying architectural engineering at Democritus University of Thrace. In 2018, she relocated to Malta, to pursue her architectural practice while simultaneously shifting her creative focus to ceramics.

Under the mentorship of Rosella Schembri for the past five years, Ioulia debuted her solo exhibition, What’s Bugging You?, in May 2024. She has also contributed to collective exhibitions, including MARA 2 at Bureau Iniala (produced by Marie Gallery 5 in collaboration with Il-Lokal) and Clay/ Craft/ Concept at the Malta Society of Arts, curated by Gabriel Zammit.

Ioulia’s work, which has transitioned from architecture to full-time ceramics, investigates form, material, and texture. Inspired by nature, she creates a whimsical “monster world” that oscillates between realism and surrealism. Her pieces merge functional design with surrealistic elements, employing scenographic storytelling to critique contemporary society. By reflecting on raw emotions, shared mental struggles, hidden anxieties, and profound desires, her creations offer a blend of design and imaginative narratives, serving as mirrors to the subconscious and prompting introspection.