Terrània launches a master class with Alberto Bustos: secrets of contemporary ceramics

Terrània presents a unique opportunity to discover contemporary ceramics with Alberto Bustos. On September 24, the Valls Art and Culture Center will host a masterclass that promises to revolutionize the learning of this discipline.

For lovers of art and creation, this session is much more than a workshop: it is a space to discover artisanal techniques and connect with one of the most internationally recognized ceramists.

Alberto Bustos’s masterclass at Terrània

What makes this session special within Terrània?

It is the first time in 22 editions that Terrània offers a masterclass of this level, with an internationally prestigious artist like Alberto Bustos. This activity breaks molds, moving to the Valls Art and Culture Center to have a larger and better-equipped space, since Montblanc does not have a facility with the necessary characteristics to develop this class with the required quality.

Until now, Terrània had developed some activities outside Montblanc, but always exhibitions; this is the first time that a masterclass of this kind goes outside the municipality, marking a qualitative leap in the festival’s educational and artistic offer.

What techniques and processes will be explored?

Participants will learn to model stoneware with their hands, without using machinery or tools, a technique that enhances direct contact with the material and artisanal control. In addition, the creation of textures using pieces of cookies impregnated with coloring pigments and glaze will be worked on, a method that gives an earthy and organic appearance to the pieces.

These processes are not exclusive to sculpture, but are also applied to the manufacture of utilitarian and functional pieces, opening a range of creative options for attendees who want to explore both the artistic and practical aspects of ceramics.

Who is Alberto Bustos and why does his presence matter?

How did Alberto Bustos become a key figure in ceramics?

Born in Valladolid in 1972, Alberto Bustos currently lives in Baix Penedès, from where he has developed a career that has crossed borders. His trajectory has been characterized by a great communicative and pedagogical ability, which has allowed him to give masterclasses around the world.

During the 2026-2027 season, in addition to the venues in Valls and Tortosa, he will teach courses in places as diverse as the Canary Islands, India, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Lebanon, Poland, Turkey, France, Italy, Greece, and Mexico, which demonstrates his prestige and the international demand for his expertise.

Why is this opportunity relevant for local creators?

Alberto Bustos’s participation in Terrània represents an open window for local creators and artists, who can learn directly from a master with global experience. This enriches the creative fabric of the region and enhances contemporary ceramics as an artistic and cultural discipline in Montblanc and its surroundings.

The workshop not only transmits techniques, but creates an environment of exchange and learning where new ideas and collaborations can be generated, key aspects for the cultural and professional vitality of artists.

Institutional collaboration and parallel activities

How is the Tarragona Provincial Council involved in this activity?

The Tarragona Provincial Council plays a fundamental role in organizing Terrània, making it possible for an event of this nature to have a much broader format and scope. The collaboration between the Provincial Council and the Montblanc City Council translates into a program that combines workshops, demonstrations, and exhibitions, consolidating the festival as a reference in contemporary ceramics.

The fact that the masterclass takes place at the Valls Art and Culture Center is a demonstration of this collaboration, allowing the use of specialized infrastructures outside the urban center of Montblanc to guarantee a better experience.

What other related activities can be expected during Terrània?

In addition to the masterclass, on September 25 a roundtable will be held at the Conca de Barberà Regional Museum. This session, entitled “Cultural Influences and Trajectories in Contemporary Ceramics,” will delve into the trends and experiences shaping today’s ceramic scene, complementing the practical aspect of the previous day’s workshop.

This combination of activities highlights Terrània’s objective: to be a meeting point where theory and practice, creation and reflection are connected, aiming to promote ceramics as an artistic and cultural expression.

Registrations for the masterclass are open through www.dipta.cat/eac, and the session will last from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, offering sufficient time for learning and interaction.

Thus, Terrània reinforces itself as a reference point for contemporary ceramics, opening doors to innovation and cultural dialogue.

For anyone interested in art and creation, this is an unmissable event that can mark a before and after in their way of understanding ceramics.

Source of the article: Montblanc City Council