Bojana Brkić

Boya Porcelain

Ceramicist

The intimate world of porcelain

Boya’s first collection was a tribute to her grandmother and her doilies
Her process is led by an intuitive approach to the material
She enjoys sharing stories through her work

A long wooden table has been a part of Bojana Brkić’s family gatherings since she was a small girl. The feeling she had as she watched her grandmother prepare the meals and arrange the flowers seems to be an inspiration that is woven into all that she does. This warmth and elegance fills her new workshop and showroom space where a similar setting acts as a centrepiece and a display for her porcelain tableware collection. Bojana is passionate about nurturing each and every piece, every aspect of a tiny cup is as important and carefully considered as the larger showpieces. She passionately and selflessly shares the knowledge she has gathered over the years working in her favourite material and hopes to inspire younger ceramists to find and express their voice in it.

Interview

Do you remember why you chose this craft?: When I was young, I always felt the urge to make things with my hands, so I started playing in clay. This resulted in a series of necklaces. The calmness I felt while making, balanced my dynamic personality, and fuelled my desire to continue and enrol on my first ceramics course.
How do you approach working with apprentices?: They are both apprentices and co-workers. I believe in the sharing of knowledge as a way of keeping our traditions and ensuring cultural progress. I hope that focused skills, experience in working on collections, and business mentoring will help them find their voice in the future.
What might people not realise about your craft?: It would probably be my need to establish almost a motherly connection with every single piece that comes out of our workshop. My inspiration comes from the material and the journey it takes me on, so I am very emotionally engaged in every step of the process.
How would you define what you do?: I think of it as functional tableware, so I wouldn’t necessarily go into defining aesthetics since I do things intuitively. I get an idea, test it and see where it takes me. It is an honest, hands-on approach. Utility comes first and decoration second.

Bojana Brkić is a master artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2018