At this ceramics workshop in Kyiv, you’ll create an octopus lamp by hand: a sculptural piece in which every detail contributes to the character of the whole. KUST’s guided programme makes the workshop suitable for beginners and for those who have worked with clay before.

What will your octopus look like?

You decide on the character of your lamp: the shape of its head and tentacles, textures, suckers, facial expression, decorative details and openings for light. Your octopus can be a realistic sea creature, a funny character or a fantastical being with unusual features and a colour palette of your own.

How the workshop works

The first class lasts 4 hours and focuses on sculpting with professional clay. You’ll shape the octopus’s body, create its tentacles, add texture and decoration, and prepare it to become a lamp. The instructor will help you build the form and securely join its parts. Afterwards, your work will remain at the studio to dry and undergo its first firing.

The second class lasts 2 hours and takes place no earlier than a week later. You’ll add colour with ceramic glazes, learn about their properties and practise creating colour transitions, accents and decorative effects. After the final firing, you can collect your octopus lamp from the studio or have it delivered by Nova Poshta.

What’s included

The price includes two classes with an instructor, professional sculpting clay, ceramic glazes and other materials, all necessary tools and equipment, personal protective equipment, two high-temperature firings, electrical fittings and a G4 LED bulb.

Who is the workshop for?

The Octopus Lamp workshop is a great choice for anyone who loves the sea, unusual interior pieces and sculpting with clay. No previous experience is needed: the instructor will guide you through every stage. It’s a creative way to spend time, go on a date or discover ceramics through a form that looks intricate but is approachable with guidance.

Give the workshop as a gift

A gift certificate for the Octopus Lamp workshop makes an original present for a birthday, Christmas, New Year or another special occasion. It is valid for 12 months and can be used at a KUST studio in Kyiv, giving the recipient time to choose a date and plan their lamp.

What you’ll take home

Once every stage is complete, you’ll have a functional ceramic lamp that you shaped and glazed yourself. When lit, it will highlight the curves of the tentacles, the surface relief and the decorative openings, turning your octopus into an atmospheric work of art with a character of its own.