FOUNDERS
Kö Keramik was founded in 2024 by Maxi and Lena Köhler. We were both born and raised in Thuringia and have been a couple since 2013. Maxi studied engineering and is currently doing his PhD in mechanics. Lena studied cognitive and media sciences. We have been living in Bochum since 2018 and have grown to love the Ruhr area over the past few years.
We started making pottery at the beginning of 2023. What was meant to be a weekend activity suddenly became a passion. For almost two years now, we have been putting all our time and energy into our project and enjoying it to the full.
We are particularly passionate about creating something new from nothing. The combination of the creative process and technical craftsmanship offers endless possibilities. Continually developing, learning and supporting each other in the process gives us the greatest pleasure, which we want to share with others.
PRODUCTS
All of our products are handmade. Not only do we make the pots ourselves, we also make our own glazes and stamps. Making our own glazes requires precision and patience. A variety of raw materials such as quartz, feldspar or oxides have to be mixed to the exact gram. One of the materials we are currently using to make our Nuka glaze is wood ash. The ash is collected by friends and family, creating a more personal connection with our ceramics.
We make most of our ceramics on the wheel. We mainly work with linear shapes and clean edges, which we can achieve with great precision on the wheel. It is important to us that we combine functionality with thoughtful design. This means that the most diverse combinations of our ceramic pieces always create a uniform image and thus timelessness.
Our glazes are simple and unobtrusive. However, a closer look reveals many details and patterns that make each of our pieces unique. The unpredictability of our glazes, due to the use of natural raw materials, breaks up our otherwise straightforward and symmetrical shapes. This break creates a certain imperfection that we find particularly beautiful.
We fire at very high temperatures, which makes the ceramic particularly robust and durable. In many ways, we are inspired by Japanese pottery traditions and combine them with modern influences to create our own style.
STUDIO
Our studio is located in Bochum Laer in a former farmhouse that has been lovingly renovated by Klaus Teichmann over the years. The studio was originally a printing office and has been used by various artists for about 15 years. Since February 2024 we have been part of this special place with our ceramics.
We have always wanted a space where we could express ourselves creatively. A place where people can come together without fear of the unknown. We offer a unique atmosphere that invites you to linger. You can take part in different workshops every month and let us introduce you step by step to working with clay.
We are currently working on making our studio an open workspace. This means that you can come along during our opening hours and work independently on your own projects. Sign up for our newsletter to find out more.