Kohila Symposium

international ceramics residency focused on wood firing

8-26
July
2026

8-26

July

2026

About

Kohila Symposium is an international wood-fired ceramics residency held annually in Kohila, Estonia. Every year, up to 11 artists are invited for a three-week period to create new work, collaborate through wood firing, and share their experiences.

Set within the historic grounds of Tohisoo Manor, the residency provides time and space for concentrated studio practice, dialogue, and experimentation.

The residency encourages international exchange in ceramics while fostering appreciation and understanding of wood firing among both professional ceramic artists and the wider public.

Special Edition 2026

Following 25 years as a space for exchange and experimentation with wood-fired ceramics, the 26th edition takes a different direction. For the first time in its history, participants from past symposium editions return to Kohila to create a shared work: the Anagama Baby Project.

This year, the Symposium welcomes KEHAGAMA, a group of 12 ceramic artists connected through their encounters with Kohila between 2010 and 2025.

Participants include Florencia Califano & Lorena Camara (AR), An Roovers (BE), Üllo Karro, Kaupo Holmberg & Joonas Parve (EE), Niko Mankinen (FI), Efrat Eyal & Roy Maayan (IL), Katarzyna Miściur (PL), Kevin Andrew Morris (GB), Callum Trudgeon (GB/NZ).

Throughout July, they will work together on a life-size ceramic sculpture, to be fired in the anagama kiln and unveiled at Tohisoo Manor Park on 26 July 2026.

Public Program

18/07 starting at 2 pm
• Open Studios
• Artists’ Talk

19/07 starting at 2 pm
• Open Studios
• Clay Games for Children
• Mug and Bowl Decorating Workshop
• Stop Motion Workshop

26/07 starting at 3 pm
• Baby Gama Sculpture Presentation
• Clay – Myths and Cinema
• Closing Ceremony and Catalogue Presentation – “25 Years of Kohila Symposium”
• Pottery and Tales
• Ceramic Market and Shared Closing Meal

Symposium History

The first symposium took place in 2001, after the first anagama-type kiln was built in the Tohisoo Manor Park. It was founded by Andres Allik, Aigi Orav and Külli Kõiv who were organizing and curating the symposium until 2015.

Juss Heinsalu and Evelyn Saul organized the Kohila Symposium from 2015 to 2020. From 2021 to 2025 the symposium was hosted by Lumi Kristin Vihterpal and Jekaterina Kultajeva.

The site currently has a nationally recognized anagama kiln built by Andres Allik.