Venice Inspired Ceramics with Valentina
Explore ceramics inspired by the Venetian lagoon with Valentina, a multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of craft and ecology. Work with wild clays, sands, and ashes sourced locally, and learn wheel-throwing, glazing, and firing techniques grounded in sustainability. Outside the studio, explore Venice’s vibrant art scene and opt for a guided Dolomites hike with a geology expert to deepen your connection to the land.
- Snacks, Coffee, & Tea
Pricing
- One Guest
- USD $1300
- Additional guest(s) (max 2)
- USD $540
Meet the Artist
Valentina is a multidisciplinary ceramic artist whose work draws inspiration and material directly from the ever-changing landscape of the Venetian lagoon she calls home. She sources wild clay, ash, and sand from its delicate ecosystem, integrating these often overlooked natural materials to create objects that embody the geological identity and memory of her homeland.
In her studio, Valentina takes a research-driven approach to ceramics, specializing in wheel-throwing, glazing, kiln firing, and wild clay testing. Her work spans functional, food-safe tableware and experimental sculptural pieces, all deeply rooted in material exploration. Inspired by Venice’s shifting waterlines, natural textures, and unique blend of decay and reflection, her ceramics hold a quiet sense of place. Her broader artistic practice also explores fading images and transformation through photography and mixed media, ideas that inform her ceramic work’s layered meaning.
Guided by a commitment to sustainability and traditional craftsmanship, Valentina dreams to create deep moments where you feel not just welcomed, but inspired; where the studio becomes a place of shared rhythm, reflection, and growth.
In her studio, Valentina takes a research-driven approach to ceramics, specializing in wheel-throwing, glazing, kiln firing, and wild clay testing. Her work spans functional, food-safe tableware and experimental sculptural pieces, all deeply rooted in material exploration. Inspired by Venice’s shifting waterlines, natural textures, and unique blend of decay and reflection, her ceramics hold a quiet sense of place. Her broader artistic practice also explores fading images and transformation through photography and mixed media, ideas that inform her ceramic work’s layered meaning.
Guided by a commitment to sustainability and traditional craftsmanship, Valentina dreams to create deep moments where you feel not just welcomed, but inspired; where the studio becomes a place of shared rhythm, reflection, and growth.
VAWAA Includes:
- Introduction to clay preparation, wedging techniques, and studio safety practices.
- Discussion and practice of zero-waste studio methods with focus on recycling clay.
- Collect raw clay samples from the Venetian lagoon or Dolomites mountains based on season, exploring natural material sourcing.
- Learn basic wheel-throwing, progressing to refining and assembling complex forms like teapots or jars.
- Guidance on design choices, selecting appropriate clay and techniques for different projects.
- Study and practice glaze application and chemistry at varying skill levels.
- Materials such as clay, tools, and basic glazes are provided. Extra materials, firing, and shipping of finished pieces are available for an additional fee.
- Visit local artist studios and explore major art museums in Venice including the Biennale, Punta della Dogana, Ca’ Pesaro, and Fortuny to gain insight into contemporary and historical craft practices.
- Option to add a Dolomite hiking trip with a geology expert with advance notice for an additional fee.
Explore Venice
Venice is unlike anywhere else in the world—a city built on water, shaped by centuries of trade, art, and quiet resistance to change. The balance between beauty and fragility, history and transformation, gives Venice its quiet power. It is not just a place to visit but one that asks you to slow down and truly see.
Here, you learn to notice how things age, how they survive, how they change. Boats replace cars. Silence drapes over canals at night. Mornings begin with the scent of coffee and the echo of footsteps over bridges. While famous sites like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge are unmissable, Venice rewards those who veer off course—into quiet squares, hidden bookshops, and artisan workshops—glassblowers experimenting with wild pigments, ceramists shaping clay drawn from the lagoon, and printmakers reviving centuries-old presses. Venice is not just a place to see, but a place to feel. It lingers long after you leave.
Here, you learn to notice how things age, how they survive, how they change. Boats replace cars. Silence drapes over canals at night. Mornings begin with the scent of coffee and the echo of footsteps over bridges. While famous sites like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge are unmissable, Venice rewards those who veer off course—into quiet squares, hidden bookshops, and artisan workshops—glassblowers experimenting with wild pigments, ceramists shaping clay drawn from the lagoon, and printmakers reviving centuries-old presses. Venice is not just a place to see, but a place to feel. It lingers long after you leave.
Additional Details
The best time to visit Venice is during Spring and Autumn, when the weather is pleasant and tourist crowds are thin. It’s best to avoid July and August, when the city is empty and the weather is uncomfortably hot.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children accompanied by a guardian, elders and people with accessibility needs are welcome to participate. The studio is on the ground floor and generally accessible by wheelchair; however, space is narrow in some areas, so please reach out in advance to ensure ease of movement.
Valentina speaks Italian and English.
This session can be extended for up to 10 days. Please add a note in your booking request.
Children accompanied by a guardian, elders and people with accessibility needs are welcome to participate. The studio is on the ground floor and generally accessible by wheelchair; however, space is narrow in some areas, so please reach out in advance to ensure ease of movement.
Valentina speaks Italian and English.