A long cherished and fascinating artistic medium, the contemporary renaissance of ceramics is breaking new ground: challenging tradition and remembering life before mass production and tech. Re-emerging in a culture of screen-time and app-based art, ceramics have become a way for many to many to disconnect and use our hands again. Working with this tactical craft and succumbing to the pleasures and unpredictability of wet clay, we have found ourselves yearning to slow down, reconnect, and reimagine life’s possibilities.
Vacation With An Artist was founded on the idea that humans have an inherent need to create. During the pandemic, we leaned on creativity to survive and prosper: we wrote, we painted, we baked bread, and we learned to sew. Many thousands more discovered ceramics as a way to escape the anxiety of the everyday and develop a slow, intentional, and joyful creative practice.
For artists and non-artists alike, VAWAA offers curious travelers the opportunity to complete a mini-apprenticeship under a master artist or artisan in more than 34 countries. VAWAA’s ensemble of forward-thinking ceramic artists allows you to delve into the breadth of ceramic expression and lend yourself to the adventures of clay art. Over the course of a mini-apprenticeship, expect to spend time learning and creating in the artist’s studio, gathering inspiration by immersing yourself in the local food and culture, and connecting with a community of fellow artists.
Pushing the Boundaries of Ceramics, Memoir, and Tradition
As ceramics regains traction in unorthodox ways, we also exist in a moment where ceramic artists are marrying tradition with the contemporary and experimental, exploring the uncharted and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the form. From elegant porcelains to complex glazes, ceramics offer a breadth of imagination that dances with the obscure. Individuality is granted to the masses, but acceptance of new forms are seducing traditionalists away from their safeguards. No longer are we in the era of “untouchable” china in glass window cupboards. Today, we are pushing the boundaries of function and gaze.
VAWAA master artist Junpei is one of many in VAWAA’s vast artist community using the ancient tradition of ceramics as a portal for the contemporary. Inspired by Japan’s oldest pottery styles Jōmon and Kintsugi tea cups—Junpei draws inspiration from human figures and an array of forms and patterns to create his works. In a delicate balance between form and function, Junpei is an honorary member of the contemporary class carving out a space for themselves.
Imagination is the main currency for artistic expression for sound sculpture artists Natalia and Hernan in Oaxaca, Mexico. Drawing inspiration from Andean heritage and the ancestral sound systems of early America, these VAWAA master artists are part of the global renaissance of ceramic exploration. Hernan, an Argentine musician, brings his 20 years of experience to Natalia’s historic passion for ceramics. Together they have pioneered methods for producing captivating sound through sculpture. Nearby, VAWAA master potter, Macrina has spend five decades honoring the renowned tradition in Indigenous red clay, crafting beautiful bowls, plates, salseros, mezcal cups, comales, and flower vases in San Marcos Tlapazola
To the north, in the oasis of Valle de Bravo, VAWAA ceramist and textile artist, Majo uses the techniques of ceramics, natural dyeing, and textiles to bring us back to joy— when life’s simplicities are center stage. Using macramé weaving in her sculptural pieces, the boundaries of clay are pushed and we remember that the world is our oyster on the throwing wheel.
Blending Modernity and Tradition
While ceramics are historically imbued across the globe, its re-emergence with modern explorations is beyond alluring. It shows us that tradition can be molded to fit contemporary needs. It speaks to our innate human desire for connection: to the past, to the tangible world around us, and the worlds we wish to see. In ceramics’ simplicity lies a profound message: in embracing the timeless wisdom of the past, we can forge a new path, rooted in both tradition and future. So let us continue to shape, mold, and sculpt—not just clay, but our own lives.
Ceramic arts are not a monolith, and VAWAA offers a breadth of experiences that explore the beauty and nuance of the art form. You can learn more about VAWAA by checking out their blog, website, and Instagram. They also offer a newsletter with weekly travel inspiration from across the globe.
