about
I’m Damjan Rutnik, the creator behind Atelje Kamej. Explorer of form, technique, and natural materials. What draws me to clay is its rawness and at the same time sensitivity. It holds a deep connection to the earth, a primary material that carries powerful energy while offering endless creative potential.
The word kamej means stone in the Carinthian dialect. Using a dialect word in the name of my brand connects me to the region I come from. I believe it’s important to preserve the richness of the Slovene language, including its dialects.
Language is alive when spoken. Just as clay comes to life through shaping and use.
I met clay early in my childhood, as almost all of us did and along the way I have worked with all kinds of materials that I have found my self in it, like building and renovating furniture, screen printing, hand bookbinding, hand sewing leather and also sewing textiles.
As I work with materials that offer freedom for creativity, clay has endless possibilities to grow and create without feeling too many limitations.
While working outdoors and preparing for winter, I found pieces of birch wood whose patterns really caught my eye. I started to peel and shape the birch pieces into the form of handles. From this perspective, the combination of ceramic and wood creates a special feeling — the smooth touch of clay paired with wood adds a unique character, bringing warmth both to your home and to everyday use.
