Where to find handmade tableware, vases and ceramics: 7 studios in Latvia

Vaidava

Vaidava is a family pottery studio that has existed since 1980. Masters of the studio create minimalistic tableware inspired by Scandinavian design and local Latvian aesthetics. 

All items are made of Latvian red clay. Its characteristic red color is due to the presence of iron oxide in clay. It is also very durable and heat resistant. 

You can find here laconic dishes for both modern city apartments and country houses in the countryside. Thanks to the mature aesthetics and modern approach, these items fit perfectly into any interior, be it high-tech or rustic. The studio also offers workshops by appointment.

Address: Ezera 2, Vaidava, Valmieras novads, Latvija

Laima Ceramics

Laima Ceramics is a collection of tableware based on the fusion of art, craftsmenship, and design. “Nestled in the deep countryside of Latvia, I design and create unique items to become part of your life story, things intended to make the otherwise mundane tasks of cooking, eating, and drinking full of mindfulness, care, and beauty,” says the founder of the studio, Laima. Here you’ll find cozy clay dishes in calm, earthy hues, boards and jars, porous vases, and fun, human-shaped porcelain teapots. Workshops are also held at a workshop near Riga.

Address: Svitene parish, Bauska county, Latvia

Maira Karsta

Artist and ceramist Maira Karsta creates sculptures inspired by her own garden and its flora. 

“It is important to me that my work can be used daily in the garden by the berry bush and at home at the table: as a vase for fragrant flowers and as a mug for a good morning coffee. New ideas for my pieces come from observing my garden, learning about flowers, and changing colors. When a pink rose fades, it is so beautiful. Its pink petals change into shades of gray-brown,” says the artist. 

The artist’s flora-inspired ceramics can be found at Putti and RIIJA galleries in Riga.

Website

Artworks are presented in galleries:

Dailrade Ceramics

The project began with a small workshop in 1966 and has grown into a famous ceramic brand. 

Dailrade creates handmade ceramics with a minimalist design that will fit into any interior. In addition to pretty cups, jars and butter dishes with birds, one can find unusual vases in the form of balls of wool, as well as capsule collaborations with Latvian designers, such as Guna Dzerina.

Website

Address: Maskavas iela 43, Rīga

Laurins Ceramics

A graduate of the Latvian Academy of Art, Laima Laurina has always been fond of ceramics. When she has become an artist and sculptor, she went to Mallorca to adopt the knowledge and experience of the local ceramists. 

Laima experiments with different color gradients and textural elements of porcelain and creates colorful vases and cups made as if from small colorful flakes. The ceramic pieces are available online.

Krasta Keramika

Krasta Keramika is a studio in Riga founded by two artists, Esmeralda Purviske and Zahars Ze. They create playfully painted clay vases, unusual geometric porcelain candle holders, and cups with colored bubble handles. You can also sign up for a workshop and learn how to sculpt by hand or on a potter’s wheel.

Website

Address: Turgeneva Iela 1/3, Riga, Latvia

Zeme Ceramics

The studio’s founder, ceramist Kitija, creates objects from clay with her own hands. Zeme means “earth” in Latvian, and this name perfectly rhymes with the studio’s concept: “ZEME ceramics is an homage to the beauty and wonder of working with materials and elements that our mother Earth provides. Each ceramic piece is hand-crafted and unique, with a character of its own. The ancient craft of pottery is an act of grounding and presence. It’s a beautiful dance between the earthly energies and the spark of creativity that comes alive through the hands of the artist. ZEME ceramics is a quiet rebellion against the modern, fast-paced and chaotic way of life where one is always pressured to achieve, produce and consume more. Here we embrace a moment of stillness and light & allow ourselves to be a human-being rather than a human-doing”. 

Cute incense coasters in the shape of faces, rough clay cups, colorful candlesticks – you can find soothing ceramic pieces for every taste here. The artworks can be bought online.

Luuk Studio

If you’re looking for monochrome sculptural vases with textured surfaces, Luuk Studio is a great place to order one. This little pottery studio creates vases of various sizes and incense coasters in black and white clay. You can also find tumblers and pots for houseplants here. The artworks are available at Etsy.