Your Teacher

Nikolas Iturralde is a ceramic artist who studied graphic design in Berlin and Valencia. His work is influenced by the iconography and cultural syncretism of Latin America, as well as its vibrant pop and subcultures. He draws on these diverse references to create eclectic pieces that explore the intersection of ornament, typography, and form through techniques such as screen printing, calligraphy, and sculpture. Nikolas creates works that shift between two- and three-dimensional forms, including sculptures, vases, functional objects, and wall pieces such as tiles and reliefs. His current focus is on ornamentation and patterns, particularly expressed through recurring motifs like fire, flames, and spikes. He has exhibited his work in various galleries and regularly collaborates with artists and designers from other fields, expanding his perspective and working methods.

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Who is This Course Right For?

This course is for designers, architects, and creative professionals interested in exploring how working with clay can enrich their visual and material practice. It’s ideal for those drawn to the intersection of ceramics, design, and visual composition, and who want to translate ideas of pattern, geometry, and structure into tangible form.

This course is perfect for you if:

• You have experience with ceramics and want to explore a new technique
• You are a designer with little or no ceramics experience but a strong interest in translating your visual language to the ceramics medium
• You are interested in surface design, graphics and product design
• You have a passion for ceramics, graphic design, patterns, or geometry
• You want to create your own collectible design objects or artworks in clay
• You have always dreamed of making your own tiles
• You love murals and would like to design and build your own

What's Included

• Ceramics classes and mentorship by Nikolas Iturralde
• All materials
• Palermo Airport pick up (12-noon Sunday) or Palermo City Pick Up (11am Sunday). There is an additional charge for any pick ups at other times.
• Return Palermo Airport transfer and Palermo City drop off on Saturday, departing Salemi at 7am.
• 2 x Yoga classes
• All meals and non-alcoholic beverages from Sunday dinner through to Saturday breakfast
• Glazing and firing a max of 3kg of pieces (this will be done after the retreat has finished)

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What's Not Included

• Accommodation
• Shipping costs are charged separately ( we’ll provide you with a shipping fee document closer to the date )
• Additional cost for firing/glazing more than 3kg of pieces (it’s 25€/kg for each extra kg of clay)
• Alcoholic beverages

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Arrival/Departure

We ask that you plan your arrival for Sunday. We have an included pick-up from either Palermo Centre (in front of Hotel Politeama) at 1100 or Palermo Airport at 1200. On Sunday afternoon (circa 1630, subject to change), you will be welcomed to Salemi by one of our team members, who will take you on an orientation walk of the historical centre. This will be followed by a welcome apericena (light dinner) with a Salemi Spritz at one of our favourite local restaurants.

We will bid you farewell at the end of your time in Salemi with an included transfer to either Palermo Airport or Palermo Centre (Piazza Politeama), departing Salemi at 0700 on Saturday morning.

**For pick-ups and drop-offs outside of these times and locations, please contact us for a transfer quote.

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Structure of the course

This is an intensive learning week! Teaching is primarily group-based with moments of individual feedback built in. Please note this is not one-on-one tuition.

You will be in the studio from Monday at 0900 through to approximately 1700 on Friday afternoon. Studio time is a combination of teaching and non-teaching time. You can expect a typical day to look like this:

0800 - Yoga in the courtyard (optional)

0900 - 1300 - Studio (teaching with a coffee/tea break at 1030 in the courtyard)

1300 - Shared lunch in the courtyard
1400 - 1630 - Free Studio Time - Afternoon studio hours are primarily self-directed practice, with your teacher available in the studio for guidance

1900 - Dinners are a combination of eating at local restaurants, home restaurants, and in-house at the studio

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During the weekends, the studio will be closed. You will be free to organise your own weekend plans or participate in one of our optional weekend activities.

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Please note

Our program is carefully designed to balance teaching, practice, meals, and cultural experiences, and we do our best to follow the planned schedule. However, all times and activities are indicative and may shift with the season, the weather, or the needs of the group. Studio sessions, meals, and excursions may be adjusted, rescheduled, or substituted at our discretion. Flexibility is part of the Salemi Ceramics experience, and we believe these small changes often add to the richness of your time with us.