ABOUT US
Aakar Pot Art is a studio pottery workshop established in 1998 by Artist Mr. Rajesh Kulkarni. Traditionally, Rajesh Kulkarni isn’t a potter; but his curiosity about exploring terracotta pottery without any predetermined background, skills, and resources of pottery paved the way for the foundation of Aakar Pot Art.
A team of artisans belonging to rural backgrounds is associated with and trained to shape Aakar. Here, we create earthenware and terracotta pottery artifacts. With intense experiments, we at Aakar have developed refined clay bodies and unique shapes. The medium of terracotta pottery helps us run our livelihood as well as creative well-being through the art and craft of terracotta.
Aakar Pot Art aims to become one of the most referred contemporary terracotta pottery institutions through the creative use of the medium.
RAJESH KULKARNI – Founder
Artist Rajesh Kulkarni is renowned for his efforts in reviving pottery as a community art through his studio Aakar Pot Art. His qualification is limited to a foundation course from Thane School of Art, Thane. He chose terracotta over the popular shimmering glazed ware. In his initial years of pottery practices, the overtly coarse nature of the local lateritic clay forced him to restrict the size of the pots made in it below 4 inches as they started cracking if taken to a height more than that. While dealing with this limitation, he concentrated on turning this limitation into an advantage. Soon, miniature pottery became his insignia. For him, it was just the vantage point!
Researched attempts to make the local lateritic clay suitable for terracotta art practices that he designed, Rajesh invented a fine clay body by improvising it. The highly refined appearance of his work in this clay body received appreciation and criticism at the same time during the first few years of improvisation. However, the clay is now in demand by fellow potters. In this age, when a majority of people focus on the things that glitter, shimmer, and gloss, it is difficult to carry on consistently with the craft skill of unembellished yet elegant terracotta art practices.
TEAM AAKAR
A team of 12 artisans belonging to rural backgrounds is associated with and trained to shape Aakar Pot Art.
Namdev Wadhaval
Vinod Gawane
Rajendra Sakhare
Mangesh Shinde
Rajesh Wadhaval
Amol Kadavekar
Santosh Wadhaval
Sanjay Sakhare
Darshana More
Santosh Pajane
Akshay Wadhaval
Trupti Murkar