Maja Kotar

I’m a graphic and ceramics designer with a deep love for tactile processes – from paper and linocut printing to handbuilding and wheel throwing in clay. I’ve always felt torn between the two worlds, so instead of choosing, I started building a bridge between them. My current focus is on exploring the intersection of printmaking and ceramics through an experimental technique I call “claycut” – merging the bold textures of linocut with the softness of clay. I’m fascinated by how traditional techniques can be reimagined in contemporary ways, especially when materials and methods collide to create something unexpected and expressive.

I got into clay as a graphic designer who needed a break from staring at screens all day. I wanted to work more with my hands, feel the material, and make something real from scratch. That was about five years ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. My love for printing techniques began earlier, during my studies at the academy – it was love at first sight. Today, my favorite process blends both worlds: I throw clay on the wheel and then carve into it using linocut tools, in a way that echoes the sgraffito technique. This hybrid approach lets me explore texture, pattern, and form in new, expressive ways.