Russian Avant-Garde and Ceramics

By Dr. Irina Kisielowa & Özlem Önen

In this workshop, we explore the connection between Russian avant-garde art and creative expression through ceramics.

Participants are introduced to key ideas of the Russian avant-garde — abstraction, geometry, and experimentation — and translate these concepts into their own ceramic pieces. At the same time, we incorporate simple elements of the Russian language and cultural context, making the experience both artistic and linguistic.

The workshop combines a short introduction to Russian avant-garde art, guided creative work with clay, and light, intuitive engagement with the Russian language. No prior experience in ceramics or Russian is required. The focus is on experimentation, creativity, and experiencing a new cultural perspective in a relaxed and inspiring environment.

In this 2-hour session, participants will discover key concepts of the movement, experiment with abstraction using simple shapes, and create their own ceramic pieces inspired by suprematism. Using clay, you will design and produce plates or bowls or decoration objects, focusing on bold compositions, contrasts, and the placement of geometric forms.

From sketching ideas to working with clay, you’ll approach each piece as a graphic surface, exploring balance, rhythm, and tension between shapes, lines, and color. The emphasis is on translating the visual language of the avant-garde into clear, striking compositions that highlight form as a means of expression.

About the Workshop

In this 2-hour session, you will:

• Discover key concepts of Russian avant-garde art
• Experiment with abstraction using simple shapes
• Create your own ceramic piece inspired by suprematism
• Engage intuitively with elements of Russian language and culture

No prior experience required. the pieces produced will be transparent glazed by us and will be ready to pick up in 3 weeks. the workshop will be held with min. 5 people and max. 15 people.

About Irina

Dr. Irina Kisielowa is a lecturer in Russian language and Slavic studies in Austria with over 25 years of teaching experience. She specializes in Russian discourse, post-Soviet cultural mentality, and innovative language pedagogy. Alongside her academic work, she develops interdisciplinary formats that combine language, culture, and creative practice. Irina is also an award-winning literary translator and works with international professionals in diplomacy, media, and research

About Özlem

Özlem is the founder of commonroom and an architect. She has worked with clay for over 20 years and has given numerous workshops and classes.