Your Teacher

Luca Della Maddalena (1987) is an Italian ceramicist based in Turin. Before discovering ceramics, he studied Philosophy in Pavia, Berlin, and Leuven. In 2011 he began training as a ceramicist in various studios in Italy and abroad; in 2026 he moved permanently to Turin and founded Tom Soyler Studio, where he combines personal artistic research with high-level training.

Since 2019, Luca has been teaching decorative techniques at IED Turin. From 2018 to 2024, he also led long-term ceramics courses for young people within the juvenile justice system, developing a pedagogical approach rooted in inclusivity and creative empowerment.

His current work focuses on experimentation with metallic lustres and third-firing techniques.

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Who is This Course Right For

The course is focused on decorative techniques; suitable for intermediate/advanced students with prior ceramics experience.

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This course is right for you if:

• You’re drawn to the magical appearance, and the alchemy, of shiny lustre surfaces
• You are a ceramics student or practising ceramicist with consistent previous experience either in ceramic form or in ceramic decoration
• You already have some familiarity with glazing/firing
• You have a basic experience in decoration with brush

Discover the territory/ Discover Sicily

During this week, you won’t just get a ceramics course. We’ve also organised a program of activity so that you can connect with Sicilian culture, get to know beautiful Salemi and its rich history and territory. 

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You will:

• Eat breakfast like the locals do in our favourite local bars
• Enjoy meals in a variety of authentic, local Sicilian restaurants / home-restaurants
• Seasonal cultural excursions

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What's Included

• Ceramics classes and mentorship by Luca
• All materials
• 6  small (12x12 cm) and 2 large (25cm height) bisqued pieces - optional
• 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 Sunday, departing Salemi at 7am.
• 2 x Yoga classes and 2 x guided meditation sessions
• All meals and non-alcoholic beverages from Sunday dinner through to Saturday breakfast
• Glazing and firing a max of 3kg of pieces

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What's Not Included

• Accommodation
• Shipping costs of pieces that will be fired by the studio (it’s between 30€ and 70€ for 3 kg depending on the country)
• Additional cost for firing/glazing more than 3kg of pieces (it’s 20€/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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A Typical Day

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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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.