Art Exchange and Technical Training with Emerging Artists

Our studio also welcomes young artists from overseas for training programs. While ceramic relief techniques are particularly popular, artists from Europe—the birthplace of stained glass—also visit our studio specifically to learn stained glass techniques.

Ukrainian artist Maria Shirchenko studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (commonly known as Beaux-Arts). In 2018, she came to Japan through a short-term exchange program between Beaux-Arts and Tokyo University of the Arts. After completing her studies, she sought to further develop her ceramic production skills and, through an introduction from an acquaintance, applied for a training opportunity at CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio.
From February 2019, Maria stayed at the studio residence for three months while receiving instruction in ceramic relief production techniques from the studio staff. At the end of her stay, she held a group exhibition at Kiunkaku, a historic landmark in Atami, together with four participants including glaze specialist Atsuo Suzumura and female studio staff members.
“I want to stay in this wonderful environment forever. I feel that if I were here, I could create many different works,” she said, returning home with a sense of reluctance to leave.

After hearing about the studio from Maria Shirchenko, Russian artist Alisa Nikolaeva applied for training in ceramic relief techniques at CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio.
After graduating from the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris (commonly known as Beaux-Arts), she worked at a production studio in Paris. Having studied environmental art as well as painting, sculpture, and design, she wanted to broaden her artistic perspective and decided to acquire Japanese ceramic production techniques.
Her arrival in Japan was repeatedly postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she was finally able to stay at the studio for three months beginning in September 2023.
Under the guidance of glaze specialist Atsuo Suzumura, she studied glaze formulation and sculptural techniques. She also participated in a research workshop held at the Shigaraki Ceramics Research Institute, eagerly absorbing Japanese techniques in ceramic production and glazing.
After returning home, she shared images of the works she created during her stay on social media. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “The studio is spacious, clean, and surrounded by a wonderful green environment. For three months, I was able to devote myself completely to creating, without having to think about caring for my one-year-old daughter or doing household chores. It was a truly precious and luxurious time.”

Australian artist Lara Bliss trained at CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio for one month beginning in April 2026 to learn ceramic production techniques.
Her experience with ceramics had previously been limited to making small clay pieces in her spare time. However, after discovering large-scale ceramic relief artworks created by the studio online, she was instantly captivated. “I want to create large-scale works like those,” she said, and applied for the training program.
At the studio, she received detailed guidance from the staff on a wide range of techniques, from the fundamentals of clay sculpting to uraguri, the process of hollowing out the back of a work (necessary because excessive thickness of clay can cause explosions during kiln firing), as well as glazing methods. During her stay, she completed three artworks.
“I hope that one day, the studio’s large-scale ceramic relief artworks will be displayed in public spaces in Australia,” she said.

Coming from France, the birthplace of stained glass, Marjorie Soci visited CREARE Atami-Yugawara Studio for one month beginning in May 2026 to learn stained glass techniques.
Marjorie, a fourth-year student at a stained glass vocational school in Paris, had a clear reason for choosing to study in Japan. In France, work involving stained glass is largely focused on the restoration of church stained glass, while opportunities to create contemporary art using stained glass are relatively limited. With a desire to create artworks using stained glass as her medium, she contacted our studio after hearing from an acquaintance in Paris that we produce large-scale stained glass artworks.
At her school, she had primarily studied glass painting and had not received training in techniques such as glass cutting. Under the guidance of our staff, she worked through various assignments and expanded her skills. “Her foundation is very strong, which allows her to work quickly,” commented her instructor.
During her stay, she deepened her connections with the studio staff through a barbecue party held on the studio terrace. She also visited stained glass artworks created by our studio and installed at Tokyo Metro stations, where she was impressed by their scale and beauty.
“One month passed in the blink of an eye. I will definitely come back again,” she said before returning to France.