I am a contemporary artist with a deep foundation in traditional, academic, and anatomic clay modeling. With over fourteen years of fine art education —including six years dedicated to clay modeling— I have honed my skills in drawing, oil painting, printmaking, studio photography and carving both stone and wood. I hold an MFA from The University of Edinburgh (2019) and a BA from The Art Academy of Latvia (2017).

My artistic work explores a diverse range of contemporary contexts related to the human body. I emphasize the gesture through clay, capturing how the human form reflects the impacts of its environment and emotional experiences. I am particularly interested in how these factors influence the sculptural body as I model it in clay and the emotional resonance when the work is completed.

Traditional composition and modeling in clay, stone, and wood have always satisfied my intellectual curiosity, providing a solid methodological foundation. However, I am also drawn to interdisciplinary projects and experimenting with different mediums and materials beyond traditional sculpting.

In developing my artwork, I intertwine material and concept, ensuring that the material itself becomes a significant part of the piece, supporting and highlighting the underlying idea. During my studies at The University of Edinburgh, I discovered working with wax, which has since inspired many works, including my degree show project —a series of self-portraits. These ten self portraits reflect my observations in Scotland. While creating them, I was inspired by the reflections in surrounding mirrors. Though the visible shapes were substantial resources, the sculptures were primarily based on the emotional impressions I experienced while modeling the plastiline busts.

Part of my work involves making molds of my sculptures, but for one self-portrait, I chose to create a body-cast. This approach highlighted the contrast between the exaggerated form of a modeled piece and the soft skin texture revealed through body-casting, initiating an experimental approach to my research and making.

I aim for my artwork to challenge viewers, encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones and engage deeply with the pieces.

Miss Beate Grauduma is a multidisciplinary artist with a strong foundation in sculpture, curatorial practice, and contemporary art theory. She holds an MFA in Contemporary Art Practice from the University of Edinburgh, where she focused on Curatorial Theory and Practice, Material Cultures, and Studio-based Artistic Practice. She also earned a BA in Sculpture from the Art Academy of Latvia, complemented by a diploma in Project Management from the Latvian Academy of Culture.

Her artistic journey includes curating and participating in exhibitions such as Collision at the Edinburgh College of Art Sculpture Court (2019) and The Art at Whitespace Gallery in Edinburgh (2018). Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in China, Belgium, Poland, and the UK.

She has participated in the European Professional Doll Art Festival across several years and has received multiple awards for artistic excellence, including the FAAP art residency at Cinevilla film studios, a grant for Project Management studies, and the Starseed Foundation Grant to attend the 7th International Conference on Contemporary Cast Iron Art.