Ceramic studio intern

Clay Studio Leiden is a professional ceramic studio in Leiden run by founder and ceramic artist Ipek Kotan, who has 19+ years of experience as a ceramic artist and designer. Ipek completed her foundation studies in 2D and 3D design at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in the States and has a master's degree in ceramic design from Staffordshire University in England, in Stoke-on-Trent, in the heart of the potteries.

From creating artwork for Cartier (watch short film below documenting the process on her art website ipekkotan.com), Christian Liaigre and Barneys New York to even a First Lady, she's been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Art Aurea, Ceramic Review, Neue Keramik, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Klei, Leidsch Dagblad and more. She has had solo exhibitions in art galleries in New York, Boston, Berlin, Bath, Brussels, and Freiburg and her work is in more than 250 private art collections from San Francisco to Sao Paulo.

Her studio welcomes ceramic enthusiasts of all levels, from complete beginners who have never touched clay to advanced and offers a variety of workshops, courses, corporate team-building events for up to 20 people, as well as independent work space for those who have sufficient knowledge and experience.

Clay Studio Leiden is a beautifully decorated, cosy, impeccably clean and organized ceramic studio in the heart of Leiden featuring professional-quality materials, tools and equipment. 

The community draws participants from around 25 countries across five continents, spanning ages 16 to 72, and has hosted team events for individuals working at Airbus, IKEA, Shell, the European Space Agency, and Leiden University Medical Center.

Beyond teaching pottery skills like wheel-throwing, painting, and glazing, Clay Studio Leiden offers interns a chance to learn how a small, reputation-driven creative business runs day to day — from workshop planning and customer experience to community-building and event planning.

Ipek, the founder of Clay Studio Leiden personally trains her interns and assistants who are usually able to teach in her studio and sell professional quality works within 6 months. As an intern in her studio, you will learn from not just practical skills but also you will be working under an internationally recognized ceramic artist whose works are in museums (including the Boijmans Museum in Rotterdam) and hundreds of private art collections worldwide.

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All interns regardless of their subject of study will need to contribute to the everyday maintenance of the studio for a small portion of their time weekly time in the studio. These tasks may include mopping, organizing shelves, watering the plants, taking out the recycling and trash, etc. 

Depending on the intern's education field and interests, interns are able to work on various tasks including but not limited to:

Ceramic-related tasks: 

Loading and unloading kilns, making slabs to use as glaze test tiles or kiln cookies, making studio samples, painting samples, reclaiming clay, distributing glazes, etc. If you are experienced, you may also assist in workshops and team events. If you are experienced in ceramics and want to learn how to be a professional teacher, let Ipek know so she can observe you with her clients and if there is a good fit, she or one of her assistants can train you.

Non-ceramic related tasks:

Website design
Social media marketing and newsletters
Photography
Business/finance