Sourcing Ceramics in Wrocław: A Winter Trip
In February, I took a short trip to Wrocław to explore some of the city’s ceramic studios and meet local makers. It was only a few days — Saturday to Wednesday — but long enough to wander through independent shops, small workshops, and quiet studio spaces, discovering pieces to bring back to the UK.
Staying in the City
I stayed at Hotel Monopol, a historic hotel right in the centre. After long days spent walking between studios, it was a welcome place to return to — especially for a short visit to the spa.
Breakfast quickly became a highlight. Their French toast deserves a mention of its own, exactly what you want before heading out into a cold February morning.
One unexpected highlight of the trip was discovering Wrocław’s tiny bronze gnome statues scattered throughout the city. There are hundreds hidden on streets, bridges, and squares.
My three-year-old quickly turned it into a game of “spot the gnome,” which made walking around much more entertaining.
We also became regular visitors to small bakery kiosks selling warm pretzels — simple, salty, and perfect on a cold day.
Exploring Wrocław’s Ceramic Studios
One of the reasons I wanted to visit Wrocław is its surprising number of small ceramic studios and independent makers. Many are located in the neighbourhoods just north of the Odra River, around Nadodrze and Ołbin, often within walking distance of each other, making it easy to spend an afternoon moving from one space to the next.
I visited a mix of studios and small retail spaces, including Z Miłości, MGart Ceramic Studio, Art Studio Klucowicz, and Martyna Zaradkiewicz. Each offered something slightly different — from curated collections of multiple makers to more personal studio environments focused on a single ceramic practice.
Some spaces felt like calm showrooms, with shelves of finished pieces carefully arranged so you could take in the forms and glazes up close. Others gave small glimpses into the working studio beyond, where tools, surfaces, and works in progress revealed more of the making process.
While I was mainly sourcing tableware — cups, mugs, and everyday pieces — it was also inspiring to see larger, more sculptural work, including ceramic lighting and statement objects that pushed beyond function into something more expressive.
Spending time across these spaces made it possible to compare styles, shapes, and finishes in person. It’s a very different experience from ordering online — you notice the weight of a piece, the texture of a glaze, and the subtle variations that make handmade ceramics unique.
From these visits, I hand-picked a small selection of pieces to bring back to the UK, each chosen for its simplicity, usability, and quiet character.
Bringing a Collection Home
From this trip, I brought back a small selection of ceramics that will form the Wrocław collection in the shop.
Each piece was chosen in person during these visits, and quantities are intentionally limited — reflecting the nature of how they are made.
If you’d like to see the ceramics discovered on this trip, you can explore the Wrocław collection in the shop.
