Raised by Brazilian parents in London, Thomas Martinez Pilnik works primarily in ceramics and textiles to explore the complexities of familial ties and personal history.

Navigating the delicate boundary between reality and memory, Pilnik draws inspiration from childhood recollections of grandparents, experiences of post-divorce custody arrangements, and the intimate atmosphere of family members gathered around the kitchen table enveloped in cigarette smoke.

Through textured glazed terracotta sculptures, Pilnik captures the raw essence of physicality and touch-memory. Each piece bears the imprint of the artist’s own hands–molded, pinched, and pulled in an attempt to immortalize the process of creation itself. By infusing his works with autobiographical elements and private moments of love and trauma, Pilnik crafts tangible records of his emotional journey. Ultimately he invites the viewer to consider the nuances of their own past and contemplate the universal themes of human experience embedded within each piece.