Session 2

Majolica: tile to teapot

June 14 - 27, 2026

No experience with clay is necessary.

Whether you have never worked with ceramics or wish to enhance your decoration techniques, this intensive course is perfect for you. With an intimate class size of just six people, you will receive personalized attention from the instructor as well as from the technicians assisting with the course.

Atelier Retiro and our community welcome you!

We are excited to share this residency with you, enjoy lunches, stories, and create lasting friendships, in addition to ceramic pieces!

The Majolica, tile to teapot residency is an invitation to explore majolica ceramics in depth, moving between tradition, the handmade gesture and contemporary creation. Throughout this immersive experience, participants are guided along a journey that goes from tile to functional object, exploring surfaces, forms and narratives through the majolica technique.

Led by Mariana Sampaio and Joy Hanford, this residency offers a space for learning, experimentation and exchange, where equal importance is given to process and final outcome. Through practical exercises, visual research and close guidance, participants will work with pattern, color, and glaze, applying the majolica technique to both flat and three dimensional pieces, such as tiles and teapots.

This residency is designed for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of ceramics, expand their artistic practice or simply dedicate time to a conscious and attentive creative process. More than teaching a technique, Majolica, tile to teapot proposes a pause, a slower rhythm and a return to making with the hands, where each piece carries a story.

An experience that brings together tradition and contemporaneity, function and expression, material and intention. 

This residency is open to all skill levels and all techniques: both hand-builders and wheel-throwers, are welcome.

  • The classes will be taught in English and Portuguese.

  • It is important that all participants have a spirit of adventure, a willingness to learn, and short, well-groomed nails.

  • Participants should wear clothing and footwear that they do not mind getting dirty.

    Additionally, it is important to note that Atelier Retiro does not have air conditioning. It is an old granite building, typically cool, but clothing should be suitable for the season: light in summer and warm in winter.

    Atelier Retiro has a washing machine available for residents to wash their muddy clothes.

€3300 per resident - VAT included

All residences based on the curriculum include materials (unless otherwise indicated), lunch, and two snacks, which are included in the residency cost.

All dietary requirements of the residents must be communicated prior to their arrival. All menus will be prepared to be accessible for all residents. It is possible to choose not to partake in the provided meals. Any food and beverages purchased outside of Atelier Retiro are the responsibility of the resident.

€2800 per resident (Without food) - VAT included

All residences, donations or services sold at Atelier Retiro are subject to a tax of +23% in Portugal. We recommend that you consult your local accountant if you wish to obtain information about applicable tax benefits or exemptions in your region. You will receive a formal invoice, receipt, and any necessary documentation upon request.

Classes and residences do not count towards school accreditation.

Mariana Sampaio

Mariana Sampaio



Mariana Sampaio was born in 1991 in Golegã, Santarém, but lives and works in Caldas da Rainha. She holds a degree and is pursuing a Master's in Fine Arts at the Escola Superior de Artes e Design in Caldas da Rainha. In 2016, she completed a technical course in Creative Ceramics at CENCAL in Caldas da Rainha.

In 2017, she opened the doors of her ceramic and fine arts studio to the public, thus launching her brand, Mariana Sampaio Studio.

Currently, she works full-time in her studio, balancing exhibitions, classes, and workshops with national and international artist residencies, where she exhibits her work and teaches about Portuguese techniques and culture through ceramics.

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