The Discrete Charm of the Ordinary

‘One genre, an infinity of approaches’ would be one good way to describe the Museum of Ethnography’s Ceramics Space, a permanent exhibition opened in 2022. In this series, we will be taking a look at objects from the exhibition through the eyes of symposium artists from the Kecskemét International Ceramics Studio, in each case drawing inspiration from the exhibition’s own 3000-plus pieces.

For the fourth installment of the series, visitors can discover the works of Emelia Hiltner, an American ceramic artist.

Location: Ceramics Space (Level -2)

Emelia Hiltner (USA, 1983) is a storyteller through clay, bringing joy through the free-spirited illustrations adorning her functional ceramics. Though not Hungarian, living in Budapest as a child in the 1990s bonded her to its culture. Since 2023, she has split her time between her birth country and her chosen home, using clay and folk arts to deepen her connection to Hungarian traditions and the universal human condition.

Emelia earned her BFA from New York University, studying under Dr. Judith Schwartz, who encouraged her to explore pottery’s conceptual and sculptural potential. She continued her post-graduate studies at the Appalachian Center for Craft with Vince Pitelka, refining her focus on form and function. International residencies and apprenticeships further expanded her technique and artistic voice, and her works are held in private collections worldwide.