Olga Simonovasim.play.art
Olga Simonova (sim.play.art) is an independent ceramic artist based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Born in 1994 in Pskov, she creates modular ceramic objects held together by magnets: their parts can be connected, rotated and swapped, so the viewer becomes a co-author of the work.
She studied graphic design at Saint Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design (2012–2014) and ceramics and glass at the Stieglitz Saint Petersburg State Academy of Art and Industry (from 2014). In 2019 she bought a kiln and set up her own studio.
Since 2023 she has been developing PLAY — a series of ceramic “pyramids” assembled with magnets. Her work has been shown at the Russian Museum, Cube.Moscow, Taoxichuan Art Center (China), Byl Contemporary Art Centre, Port Art Fair and Third Art Fair. First prize at “Colour Block” (Art Brut Gallery, Moscow, 2023). Represented by SAMPLE gallery.
In recent years, my practice has focused on ceramics. Working with clay, I create modular constructions with movable and detachable details in which the material, the author and the viewer become co-authors. I explore play not as a theme, but as a method.
Play here is not about childhood, but an opportunity to see everyday life in a new way, to give new meaning to ordinary things and to include the viewer in the process. The repetition of forms becomes a tool: through it I create a structure, like in a game — the rules are simple, but the variations are endless.
PLAY (2023 — ongoing)
PLAY is an open visual system: each object is a ceramic pyramid built from parts held together by magnets. The parts can be connected, rotated and swapped, so the work is never fixed and the viewer can rebuild it. Clay, glaze, magnets; some objects include glass. PLAY 1, PLAY 10 and PLAY 12 are available through SAMPLE gallery.
Exhibitions & awards
Education: Stieglitz Saint Petersburg State Academy of Art and Industry, Department of Ceramics and Glass (from 2014); SPbGUPTD, Graphic Design (2012–2014). Residencies: ART BOOST (2022) and Clay (2023), GetArtFit.
- 2026“You can play” (duo show)
Cube.Moscow, Moscow - 2026“Games People Play”
State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg - 2026Spring Art Fair “All paths One place”
Taoxichuan Art Center, China - 2026BLAZAR art fair
with SAMPLE gallery - 2025“Back to Matter”
Byl Contemporary Art Centre, Stary Oskol - 2025“Cabinet of Curiosities” festival
Bulthaup Design Gallery, Saint Petersburg - 2024Third Art Fair3rd prize
Saint Petersburg - 2023“Colour Block”1st prize
Art Brut Gallery, Moscow