ABOUT US
Kō Keramik was founded in 2024 by Max and Lena Köhler. Born and raised in Thuringia, and a couple since 2013, we share the joy of creating something of our own together. Since 2018, we have been living in Bochum, which has become our home.
We started working with clay in early 2023, initially as a way to balance our everyday lives. What began as a weekend activity quickly developed into a deep passion. Since then, we have dedicated our time, curiosity, and commitment to ceramics and to building our shared project.
We take our craft seriously and are constantly seeking new challenges to further develop our work. The combination of creative exploration, technical understanding, and traditional craftsmanship inspires us every day. Currently, we are especially dedicated to wood firing and exploring natural materials, where fire, ash, and time themselves become part of the creative process.
With our ceramics, we aim to create pieces that enrich everyday life and encourage moments of appreciation. Our work invites you to rediscover colours, shapes, and surfaces again and again, and to engage more consciously with the objects that surround us every day. For us, ceramics is about being present in the moment – and this is the feeling we hope to share through our work.
OUR PRODUCTS
All of our pieces are handmade – from the first shaping process to the final surface finish. In addition to creating our vessels, we also develop and produce our own stamps and glazes. We work primarily with natural materials and simple, traditional glaze recipes, whose full character only emerges through the firing process. Materials such as feldspar, quartz, oxides, and wood ash are carefully selected and precisely combined. What fascinates us most is how atmospheric firing techniques, such as wood firing, transform these simple materials and give them unique colours, textures, and surfaces.
The majority of our ceramics are made on the pottery wheel. We primarily create clear, geometric forms with precise edges, which define our approach to design. It is important to us to combine functionality with timeless design. Our pieces are designed to work harmoniously together, creating a calm and cohesive overall aesthetic that can be enjoyed for many years.
Our glazes are intentionally kept subtle and reduced. Their distinctive character emerges through the natural variations of the materials and the influence of the fire. Upon closer inspection, fine structures, colour nuances, and transitions become visible, making each piece unique. The slight unpredictability of these surfaces creates a contrast to our clear forms and establishes a balance between precision and natural imperfection.
By firing at high temperatures, we create durable and long-lasting stoneware ceramics designed for everyday use. Inspired by traditional pottery techniques and modern design approaches, we continue to develop our own style, where craftsmanship, functionality, and the beauty of natural materials come together.
OUR STUDIO
Our studio is located in Bochum Laer, on the grounds of a former farm. The space where our ceramics are created was originally a print shop and has been used by various artists for many years. Since February 2024, we have been fortunate to become part of this special place.
What is now our studio has grown over time. It all began in a small 8-square-metre room. Through countless hours of renovation, dedication, and personal effort, we gradually transformed the space into what it is today. A cold, unused hall has become a warm and welcoming place that now offers 130 square metres of space for our ceramics, creativity, and encounters.
For us, this place is much more than a workshop. Our studio has become a home – a space where we can express ourselves creatively, where new ideas can emerge, and where we can share our passion for craftsmanship with others. Every week, people from different backgrounds come together here, take time for themselves, and experience the joy of creating something with their own hands.
We want this to be a place where people can slow down, experiment, and allow themselves to be surprised by the process. A place without expectations, where mistakes are part of learning and the journey is just as important as the final result. In our ceramics courses, we guide you step by step through working with clay and invite you to become part of this special atmosphere.