Three white ceramic plates with textured surfaces, stacked slightly overlapping on a white surface.

WHO WE ARE

We are a small family-run business with just 3 people at the core of it all.

We work across many avenues:

host short-term and long-term pottery workshops and retreats
make heirloom tableware for families
make restaurant dinnerware and collaborate with chefs
create exclusive one-of ceramic art&design piece
collaborate with food-photographers and interior designers
work wholesale with home&lifestyle designer shops and galleries around the world
design tableware for other brands such as VaidavaCeramics and PorcelānaFabrika
we have created a Horse Sanctuary “LaimesZirgi” based in holistic animal co-living principles

Meet the Team

laima piliņa

Founder, designer/maker
Oksana Berķe

Production manager, Packing Queen, Customer service
Krišjānis Piliņš

Photography, graphic design, household practicalities
Džera

Head of Security
Minne

Chief Quality Control
Welcome Committee
Džeronimo

in love with Laima
Laura

Simply cute
Gabriel

Chief ZEN stay-at-home cat
Charly Chi

Barn supervisor
Sahara

Prodigy Superstar Princess
Master of hugs
Livino De gredos

ZEN Mapmaker
Master of Mischief
Harmony

The Mother / Boss
Master of Everyone
MIERVALDIS

Lord of Peace

Notions of stewardship, sustainability, and social empowerment form the underlying ethos behind Laimas practice.

“Nestled in the deep countryside of Latvia, I design and create unique items to become part of your life story, things intended to make the otherwise mundane tasks of cooking, eating, and drinking full of mindfulness, care, and beauty.

I hope to inspire a desire within you to think carefully about the objects you have in your life. I believe in handmade, well made, and slowly made.

I work to restore the balance of unique items against the mass products that surround us. I believe that cultivating an attitude of care towards objects around us will reflect in our relationships and, on a larger scale, our worldview.

I make tableware that brings quiet beauty into everyday life. I pray for a future where all things around us are made in the spirit of gratitude and joy, honouring nature and everything upon it.”

About laima

The founder of “Laima Ceramics” – Laima Piliņa (born Grigone)

Born in Latvia and attended Bauska Art School. After gaining Diploma in Photography she moved to the UK to do Foundation Degree in Art and Design at the Oxford Brookes University (2009).

In 2013 Laima received a BA degree in Contemporary Crafts from Falmouth University where she gained experience in working with clay, wood, metal and glass. During her studies her work was not bound to one format – ranging from mixed-media installations to light design.

In 2012 Laima became an apprentice to the ceramic master Ingrīda Žagata (studio Cepļi). Since then her main passion has been ceramics.

In 2013 she received ELFLA funding and set up a studio in Rundāle (Latvia) creating functional tableware.

In 2016 the first two horses arrive and the Horse Sanctuary is created

in 2019 Laima received MA degree in Ceramics at Latvian Art Academy.

ABOUT THE POTTERY STUDIO

In 2013 the studio opens its doors to the public, housed in renovated 100yo brick building in Rundale, Latvia

In 2018 the new 250m2 studio and 100m2 loft is built to accommodate the growing business and provide accommodation for ceramic students as well as to host various short-term and long-term creative ceramic workshops for both local and international audience.

In 2021 Artist Residency house is renovated - providing additional space to host our growing international community of pottery artists.

In 2022 Oksana Berķe joins the studio as studio assistant

In 2023 Krišjānis Piliņš joins the studio - doing photography, wood carving and graphic design

In 2026 Yutori range is born

“Earth benders. Soil tenders. Mud caressing, joy embracing, tea brewing women. We take small pieces of earth and caress them into offerings to the world. The offering of the heart, of the hand, of the spirit. The work is unglamorous, repetitive, technical, and humble. Making pots. Oh, darling, it is not pots we are making, We are tending to spirits, to people across the globe thirsty for things with soul and meaning and dignity and grace embedded at the core. It is the most important work. At the same time, it is really nothing special, just earth shaping.

In times like these, it is even more important to love what you do and do what you love, whichever way you can move it.

Potters keep potting, weavers keep weaving, carvers keep carving, dancers keep dancing, singers keep singing, cats keep purring.”

— Laima