In a time characterized by change in art and a breakthrough in design, Heide Warlamis founded the "Austrian Gallery for Ceramics" in 1981 for the material clay. The collector, who is also an artist herself, assembled a unique selection of contemporary ceramic art from the 1980s with her passion and expertise. In numerous exhibitions, established artists were shown alongside emerging ones. Among them were Kiki Kogelnik, an internationally recognized interdisciplinary artist, Kurt Ohnsorg, a pioneer of modern ceramic art, and Colin Pearson, a British ceramic master. What they all had in common was their innovative engagement with the material clay, which found its forms in extraordinary sculptures, visionary objects, decorative jewelry pieces, and bold designs for ceramic vessels.

Some participants of the International Ceramic Symposium Gmunden, founded by Kurt Ohnsorg, which has since evolved into the Academy of Ceramics Gmunden (AoCG) in 2022, were able to participate in exhibitions in Vienna. The AoCG is an innovative concept that enriches the local art scene and underscores the significance of ceramic art in cultural history and in the contemporary art world. The widely recognized figures in the ceramic scene, such as Franz Josef Altenburg, Jody Baral, Gerda Gruber, Anton Raidel, Kurt Spurey, and Aisaku Suzuki, took part in the Vienna exhibitions of the 1980s and impressed visitors with their works.

The exhibition at the Gmunden Ceramic Manufacture presents an impressive selection of sculptural pieces. The expressive ceramics showcase the versatility of the material, in terms of shapes, colors, and techniques. The exhibition invites visitors to be inspired by the sculptural works with their playful combinations of functionality and art. It offers deep insights into the creative impulses and processes of a generation of artists in transition, as well as the bold experimental spirit of a creative era that continues to resonate today.