Studio Philosophy & Team

Our Philosophy

Working with clay creates a unique dialogue between maker and material. Clay is remarkably responsive; every touch, every gesture leaves its mark, inviting us into a state of complete presence and attention.

This ancient material has a natural ability to center us. When our thoughts scatter or our movements become hurried, the clay responds with honesty, gently guiding us toward patience and mindful awareness. It teaches us to slow down, to listen, and to cultivate sensitivity to both the material and ourselves.

We truly cherish this meditative element of working with clay, and we feel privileged to share this experience with our community. At Mie Kim Studio, we balance technical skill with creative freedom, creating space for students to discover their own path to flow and mindful practice.

Our instructors bring deep technical knowledge alongside a genuine respect for clay's contemplative nature. We've cultivated an approach that honors both the craft foundations and the transformative, meditative aspects of ceramics.

Our Team

Alena Zaitseva is a studio potter and designer based in Montreal who joined the Mie Kim Studio as an instructor in 2021. Coming from a background in Industrial Design, she specialises in functional pottery on the wheel and enjoys sharing her love of clay with the students, guiding them through the process with patience and encouragement.

Jean-Emanuel Tremblay | Jean-Emanuel is a ceramic artist and designer based in Montreal. With a background in architecture and visual effects, his work explores the intersection of aesthetics, storytelling, techniques, and organic spontaneity, drawing on the tension between the digital and the tactile, the functional and the fictional. In his teaching, he approaches wheel throwing as both a technical discipline and an exploratory practice. Emphasis is placed on foundational skills while encouraging attentiveness to material behavior, repetition, and subtle variation. Through demonstration and observation, students cultivate a thoughtful relationship to clay.

Mikayla Sousae | Mikayla joined our team shortly after moving to Montreal from Vancouver early this year. She completed a BFA with a Major in Critical and Cultural Practice from Emily Carr University spring 2025, eventually settling on ceramics as her main medium. Her ceramic practice, rooted in research and experimentation, mixes wheel throwing, hand building, and glaze research to create functional and sculptural work. Mikayla takes inspiration from nature’s own vessels and the possibility for ceramic works to carry place, grief, and change. Through teaching, she hopes to encourage those who are curious to start forming their connection with clay.

Join our team!

We are looking for wheel throwing teachers to join our team who share our mission of spreading the meditative and transformative experience of ceramics with our community.  Details about the position.