Stella Athanasiou

My design practice, which encompasses both ceramic and textile design, is driven by storytelling to forge connections and evoke profound emotional responses. Through my work, I intertwine aspects from my personal experience, cultural heritage (Vietnamese-Greek) and the natural environment to create a deeper connection between my work, myself and the world. My graduating project, 'Masked Self' utilises the concept of autistic masking to satirise the profound impact of society's deeply ingrained ableism on autistic people. The sculptural figures of this collection invites viewers into diverse autistic experiences, aiming to challenge harmful ableist misconceptions and assumptions.