Baba Yaga is both feared and endeared in Slavic cultures. Depending on the circumstances, this hideous all powerful witch can end up either eating or helping a traveler that wanders near her chicken legged hut. Baba Yaga travels through the forest in a flying mortar with a pestle in one hand, and a broom in the other with which she sweeps away her traces. Western pop cultural references to Baba Yaga are typically in the context of a Russian folkloric boogeyman (John Wick, Ant-Man and the Wasp, etc.). I designed my version of Baba Yaga based heavily on Ivan Bilibin's illustration in the classic Russian folktale, "Vasilisa the Beautiful" published in 1874, as it conveyed the most verisimilitude - a key characteristic I try to instill in all my work. I also would like to thank and dedicate this piece to all my Russian friends on Instagram for inspiring me to explore the rich world of Russian folklore. My thanks again to the Ceramic Art Studio and Shop.
Baba Yaga frequently bears the epithet "bony leg" (Baba Iaga kostianaia noga).
Wet clay model
