Antonija Gospić’s creations showcased during The Transparent Breath (organised by Arte e Design Venezia, curators: Eleonora Varotto and Lisa Balasso ) exhibition were truly exceptional, and it was an absolute pleasure for me to have the opportunity to select them for Revista Atelierul’s award. Her artistic talent and unique style were evident in each piece, leaving a lasting impression on all who viewed them.
Antonija Gospić’s creations
Antonija Gospić’s creations
1. Could you please tell me how and when did you started your creative business? What was the starting point?
Since I was little, I always had an urge to work with my hands and be creative. First thing I learned from my grandmother, when I was 6 years old was knitting, sewing clothes for my dolls and making embroidery. In school I was epecially thrilled with my art classes, where I enjoyed sculpting clay and making papier mache masks. Creating and discovering new techniques was one of the thigs that made me happy the most, so when I enrolled in the University of Zadar, Croatia, Art History department, I also continued to create, and that’s when my journey with jewelry started. Clay and polymer clay was my preferable material, but later I started to experiment with metal and wire and that was a turning point from a play to something more serious. Metal and glass was something that fascinated me, and I started to explore glass techniques, buy equipment and learn on my own with a help from books and YouTube. Maybe it’s destiny, but in that time, Museum of Ancient glass, the only glass museum in Croatia, opened in my hometown and I started to volunteer in the museum’s hotshop, leraning to blow glass and making beads. What is usually said – the rest is history, after more than 14 years I’m still working there, doing demos of glassmaking for visitors and making original souvenirs for the museum gift shop. I also have my home studio where I play with new ideas and designs and present them in my own shop Galleriadivina on Etsy.
Antonija Gospić in her workshop
2. I was looking at your Esty profile, congratulations on the sales, what is your secret to success on the platform?
Etsy is a great platform for artists, artisans and small businesses, but it takes a consistency, hard work, quality, originality and good customers service to break through and stay on the surface. I am happy and thankful that my clients are happy with my creations, and I always try to offer them something new and interesting, and if they need adjustments or alterations, I alway try to meet their expectations.
Antonija Gospić in her workshop
3.“Blown glass, contemporary jewelry, fused glass, wire”, what are the values for your creations? What are your flagship products? Why did you choose them?
For me, creating jewelry is first and foremost – a joy and a play. And if possible, a story telling. I like experimenting an challenging myself to learn something new and unknown. I like mixed media, so before working with glass, I learned some basic metalsmithing and especially wirewrapping, so when the glass came in the picture, I enjoyed combining them together. In creating, I usually follow my inner feeling and I just let the imagination an my hands take me to the unknown.
4. I discovered your brand at the exhibition “The Transparent Breath”. How did you find the exhibition experience? How do you prepare for an international group exhibition?
Participating in the exhibition ‘The Transparent Breath’ in one of my favourite cities in the world – Venice was a ‘pinch me, I’m dreaming’ moment. I had a privilege and an honor to participate twice, and it was a huge thing for me and my mother institution – Museum of Ancient glass in Zadar, because we were also included in the world famous Venice Glass Week. Also, meeting with curators Eleonora Varotto and Lisa Balasso also opened some future projects, and meeting with other artist at the exhibition created new friendships and inspirations.
Antonija Gospić’s creations
Antonija Gospić’s creations
5. How would you define the style for your creations?
Ecclectic, I guess. Sometimed things are simple and clean, but sometimes I follow an idea and let the process lead me to an unknown end. I like to be surprised by my jewelry.
Antonija Gospić’s creations
6. Where do you find your inspiration? Do you have preferred podcasts, places, people?
I find inspiration in my inner thoughts and feelings, in nature, places, certain situations, people and art of course. I follow a lot of artists on social media, not only glass and jewelry artists, but all who create art that I can connect to and feel a certain artist’s energy in it, which is probably similar to mine.
Antonija Gospić’s creations
7. What are the most important lessons you have learnt in your creative career?
To follow my own inner voice and not to try to be someone else but myself. To stop and rest when I need to, and to accept periods when my creative drive and inspiration is low or non existant.
8. What advice can you give to someone wanting to start a creative business?
I think it all starts with love of creating. To sastisfy ourselves and our need to create something with our own hands and thoughts, i think that’s the starting point. Than if we want to go further, I think it’s important to educate ourselves in the skill as much as possible, preferably with people who have more experience and give courses, because we will save a lot of time discovering things by ourselves. And also invest in the equipement and quality material to work with. The art / artisan market is really huge and it’s hard to pop out immediately, so sometimes it takes some time an patience until we are recognized and have an audience and clients that love and buy our work.
Antonija Gospić’s creation
9. What does the future hold for your brand? What new collection are you planning?
Besides a privilege to participate in ‘The Transparent Breath’ exhibitions in Venice, in the last two years I had one solo exhibition and two group exhibitions in Croatia, and also a cooperation with a Croatian fashion designer Igor Dobranić, for whom I made custom made glass beads for his I.G.O.R. Spring-Summer 2023. collection of clothes and accessories. At the moment, I’m exploring glass recycling, trying to use industrial glass in my current projects and give my little contribution to the green movement.
10. Revista Atelierul (Atelierul Magazine) is a Romanian brand, do you have any Romanian creators, designers, jewelry makers that you admire?
I’ve been introduced to the Atelierul magazine last year after the first ‘Transparent Breath’ exhibition, and I discovered many great artists in different media. I’m also very happy that you selected me and my work for an article, international recognition is a great compliment and a big push for going further in creating. I’m also folowing Romanian Jewelry Week that is becoming very important in the global contemporary jewelry movement, and I’m happy to see many Romanian and international artists presenting their work and get publicity and recognition.
Antonija Gospić’s creations
Antonija Gospić’s creation
The images are send by Antonija Gospic, from her personal archive.
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