chisato kuroki
international ceramic studio®
barcelona spain
4 WEEKS IMMERSIVE PROFESSIONAL CERAMIC TRAINING IN
BARCELONA SPAIN
01/02-26/02/2027
08/03-02/04/2027
17/05-11/06/2027
Ceramics offer a path to self-discovery and personal growth. Experience the immersive world of ceramics.
This intensive course enables you to quickly master hand-building, decorative techniques, and glazing, while exploring both Japanese and the distinctive creative styles of Chisato.
Chisato Kuroki
A Japanese ceramic artist residing in Barcelona, she boasts 30 years of experience in ceramics and 20 years in teaching. She has been a winner and finalist in numerous international competitions and biennials and has participated as an invited artist at art festivals and residencies in Spain, England, China, France, and Japan.
Her work ranges from tableware and contemporary ceramic sculptures to large experimental kiln projects.
She is renowned for her innovative "Kamigama" kilns, constructed from newspaper and fired with charcoal, capable of reaching temperatures of up to 1200 degrees in just three hours.
Chisato Kuroki also has extensive expertise in experimental ceramics and ceramic performances, including the creation of a tea house (3m in diameter and 2m in height, made with 3 tons of clay) built as a single piece and fired with wood for the International Kiln Festival.
Alongside her expertise in Japanese techniques, she has created a variety of original methods driven by her enthusiastic nature, continually exploring unconventional materials. Her raku workshop is famous for its creativity and appeal. As a Kundalini Yoga instructor, she combines yoga and ceramics to uncover personal source of inspiration.
Studio
The studio is situated in the trendy Born area, right in the heart of Barcelona, surrounded by charming old streets and just a short distance from the renowned Gothic church, Santa Maria del Mar. The studio itself is housed in an 18th-century building.
It is part of the cultural Espai Ku, where various artists come together to enjoy a vibrant atmosphere. Additionally, you can find exhibitions, concerts, and events, particularly on weekends.
Course Program
Modeling
*The contents of the program may change depending of the progress of the course.
Japanese Handbuilding tecniques
pinch
Japanese pinch tecnique
WAREYAMA TOJIAWASE
slab
HARIAWASE, Lotus leaves, Japanese Trays
coil
Trays
hollow
YUNOMI
Decoration tecniques
SHINOGI
MOKUME
HAKEME
Inlays
Neriage
Wax
Slip
etc...
Glaze
Glaze with conventional materials and wood ash glazes: An Overview of Application Methods.
In traditional Japanese ceramic studios, glaze recipes are typically kept secret. However, we choose to share our original glaze recipes openly.
RAKU
Video
4 weeks Ceramic Training 2024
Course Information
Schedule
Classes take place Monday to Friday, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM for lectures
Self-study time are from
2 PM to 5 PM Monday to Thursday.
Courses will be offered in English, Spanish, and Japanese.
How to enroll
Applicants are encouraged to present ceramic pieces, drawings, and other works. Each applicant will have a short video conference with the teacher. Kindly complete the contact form.
cost
The total fee is €2800, which covers materials (excluding porcelain clay) glazes, and firings associated with lecture time. Students will have access to a workspace designed for self-practice, equipped with a wheel, table, and shelving. Please note that accommodation, meals, airfare, airport transfers, and any additional materials or firings personal projects are not included.
Number of students
Maximum of 5 students per course.
Accomodation
Accommodation is not included but we can offer you information.
Course dates
From 7th of September to 2nd of October 2026
From 1st to 26th of Feburary 2027
application open
From 8th of March to 2nd of April 2027
application open
From 17th of May to 11th of June 2027
application open
Testimonials
Myriam from Canada
Miles from Australia
Mary from US, Ayse from Turkey Iryna from Sweden
Kovi from Australia
Chisato's 4-week Japanese tableware ceramics course in Barcelona is a true masterclass, run by a true master of her craft. It has now given me the confidence to venture off onto my own ceramics journey back home.
A thorough combination of hand-building techniques, decorative techniques and glazing skills allowed me to take a really deep dive into the entire ceramics process. We even made our own glazes from their primary components!
And with the 2 kilns in the studio, I learnt a lot about the practicalities of firing as well. Chisato is an excellent teacher, very patient, and with limitless knowledge, whilst also allowing us to explore our own creative endeavours along the way. The studio was a happy and welcoming place.
A real highlight of the course was the raku firing we did at her home in the last week, in the hills just beyond Barcelona! I would highly recommend this course, for people who really want to understand Japanese ceramics and learn from a genuine master.
Miia from Finland
I had the pleasure of taking part in a 4 weeks immersive ceramics course in Barcelona by the wonderful artist and teacher Chisato Kuroki.
The lovely studio itself was located in the cool and beautiful area of El Born. It was very easy to find and close to restaurants and small shops.
We had lessons every day from 10am-2pm and after lunch could continue to work independently. The course taught me a lot of new handbuilding techniques and japanese way of making ceramics. I must say that I absolutely loved every second of it! Chisato is a wonderful teacher and created a cosy, serene atmosphere in the studio. We had a perfect small group of likeminded people that had all fell in love with clay. I miss my time in Barcelona with these people and clay and I am most grateful to have had this experience. I higly recommend the course
Pia Hamberger from Germany
For some time now, I have an interest in ceramics, taking a few courses. This intensive four-week program in Barcelona at Chisato's workshop allowed me to delve deeper than I had in short workshops. Spending several weeks immersed in the world of ceramics and Japanese modeling techniques transformed my perspective: now, when I see a piece, I not only admire it, but I also wonder about the used, the type of clay, and the glazing. Chisato is an exceptional artist, generous with her and demanding in her teaching. At first, I struggled to adapt to her approach, which doesn’t involve doing things for you, but her method is effective: it pushes you think, experiment, and solve problems, greatly enriching my learning experience. Classes are held in the mornings until2 p.m., which I find, as it allows you to continue in the workshop in the afternoons or enjoy the many museums and cultural activities that Barcelona has to offer. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the brief meditation we did each morning before starting the day in the workshop. Just five minutes of self-massage exercises helped me feel more present and connected to the creative process. I am Chilean and live in Germany, and being in Barcelona added great value. Walking the Born every morning, watching the city come to life, was truly unique experience. The studio, located in the heart the city, is surrounded by art and vibrancy. One of the most memorable experiences the Raku day we had on the outskirts of Barcelona Chisato's home. The kiln, built by her with, added an authentic and artisanal touch to the process Additionally, Chisato made sure to install air filtration machines in the workshop, which is essential since the kilns are located in the same room where we work. highly recommend this intensive four-week course if you want to ceramics seriously, step out of your routine, learn in-depth in a professional and supportive environment.
Ioni from Barcelona
I had such an amazing month studying ceramics with Chisato. I started with limited experience with ceramics but learned so much. Chisato creates such a welcoming and supportive learning environment with a very well-structured and varied course. We learned about hand-building techniques but developed them in a very unique and creative way. I found making glazes really interesting which is not covered in many other ceramics courses. I cannot thank Chisato enough for this experience and am looking forward to using the techniques taught in this course in my own work.
Sofia from US
The experience that Chisato curated for us was something I will never forget! You are getting so much more than just a ceramics class, you’re getting a full artistic experience. On the first day arriving to class I was greeted by Chisato with a warm hug. As the other girls walked in we all introduced ourselves and got to know a little bit about each others backgrounds. Before starting with ceramics, Chisato took us through some meditative breathing work to help clear our minds before creating, this is something
I will always put into practice beforehand now. It was such a calm way to start the morning all together either with stretching or breathing to loosen up as I’m sure ceramic artists know it can be very taxing on your body. Then we went into working with clay immediately. I was shocked by the amount we made in just one day! Already, we had learned several different techniques, and made about five different clay bodies. It was amazing! We ended the day with homemade tea by Chisato and each day after that the experience grew even better! Chisato is an excellent and patient teacher who does a great balance of allowing you to create with some freedom while keeping you on task with her techniques and purpose of the peice to learn the best way possible! She is extremely creative and some of the awesome things we learned, she came up with herself. Others were traditional Japanese techniques and some more modern, this was what I loved most. A little bit of everything!
Past making ceramics, we actually learned to make our own glazes from scratch! I wasn’t expecting this and it was so fun to experiment and learn about the chemistry of it all. Chisato provides you with detailed recipes for each glaze and the correct pouring technique to coat your ceramics in order for them to come out beautifully. I had the privilege of being with very kind girls and each day we learned, laughed, and created to the fullest. Chisato isn’t just interested in teaching you and getting you out of the door, she values community just as much as art, allowing you to be yourself and taking the most time you need to help you out of the kindness of her heart.
Towards the end of the course we got the privilege to see her home and create cool pieces through a unique technique called Roku. This entailed fire, saw dust, and beautiful ceramics. Afterward we ate lunch together with a stunning view of the ocean from her terrace. We did a potluck style meal that was delicious and finished with desert and more tea. An unforgettable day! It was my favorite.
On the very last day Chisato surprised us one last time,
I won’t list the details in case she wants it to remain a surprise for future students. I will however say this, it’s cooler than anything you can picture and tastier too. I would rate this experience a once in a lifetime out of ten. She has helped all of us become better at ceramics, patience, creativity, experimenting, artistry and above all else, surprisingly, community! I am very grateful to Chisato for her efforts and the love that she pours selflessly into this course. I can assure you there is nothing else and no one else like her to teach you the marvelous art of ceramics.
