We are very excited to host a special two-day masterclass at AliKe Pottery Studio in Warsaw led by ceramic artist Kseniya Polyakova.

Kseniya is internationally recognized for her exceptional skill on the pottery wheel and her ability to create large, complex forms using techniques she has developed through years of practice. With a background in architecture and design, her work reflects a strong sense of balance, proportion, and structure, often pushing the physical and technical possibilities of clay on the wheel. This workshop is a rare opportunity to closely observe her process and learn from her approach in an in-depth, hands-on setting.

This intensive workshop focuses on throwing larger forms on the pottery wheel and building composite vessels made from several parts. During the two days participants will learn techniques used to create larger ceramic pieces while maintaining stability, structure and control.

Kseniya will demonstrate her working process step by step and guide participants through practice sessions, sharing her approach to working with larger amounts of clay and assembling multi-part forms.

During the workshop participants will learn:

• spiral wedging and cut-wedging techniques
• how to properly center larger amounts of clay
• raising the walls and creating strong cylinders
• techniques for throwing larger vessels
• how to build composite forms from multiple thrown parts

Workshop Program

Day 1 

Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Demonstration: 2 hours

• Spiral wedge clay;
• Cut-wedge clay technique;
• Clay centering, working with a 2kg weight;
• Pottery technique of raising the wall and making a cylinder, working with a 2kg weith

Practice: 2 hours

Lunch 

Demonstration: 1 hour

• Making a vase from 3,5kg of clay
• Making a Moon jar from 5kg of clay

Practice: 3 hours

Day 2

Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Demonstration: 2 hours

• Making a two-piece compositive vase from 9kg of clay

Practice: 3-4 hours

Lunch

Demonstration: 2 hours

• Making a large three-piece composite vase weighing 30kg

Who is this workshop for

This workshop is recommended for participants who already have basic experience with the pottery wheel and would like to expand their skills in working with larger forms and more complex structures.

Participants should feel comfortable centering clay and throwing basic shapes on the wheel.

All necessary tools and equipment will be available at the studio.

The workshop will be conducted in English.

Please note: the pieces made during this workshop are intended purely as practice pieces. There will be no glazing or firing, and works will not be kept. The emphasis is entirely on learning, experimentation, and refining technique rather than producing finished objects.