Papier Atelier London is a sculptural studio working with paper clay and natural materials to create quiet, textured objects for contemporary interiors.

Founded by Sanja Charalambous, the studio grew from a desire to work slowly, with intention, and in conversation with material rather than in control of it. Born in former Yugoslavia and now based in London, Sanja brings a sensibility shaped by contrast — between structure and softness, restraint and release, the considered and the intuitive.

Having grown up during years of civil conflict and material scarcity, she developed an early understanding of both resilience and resourcefulness. In an environment where little was taken for granted, she learned to observe closely and to find beauty in what was simple, worn, or incomplete. These early experiences fostered a lasting sensitivity to form, material, and meaning, and a deep respect for sustainable practices rooted in care, intention, and thoughtful use of resources.

Each piece begins as an open possibility. Forms are shaped by hand and left to air-dry naturally over days or weeks. This unforced process is both practical and philosophical: it reduces energy use, allows the material to settle and respond on its own terms, and ensures that no two works emerge in the same way. Subtle shifts occur as the clay dries — irregular rims, raw texture, gentle distortions — leaving behind surfaces that carry the memory of touch and time.

The work is informed by Wabi-Sabi, the Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. Rather than correcting asymmetry or refining away irregularity, these qualities are preserved as part of the final form. They are not flaws, but traces of process — evidence of hand, movement, and becoming.

Materials are selected with care for their low environmental impact, and each piece is produced in small batches with full attention. Waste is kept to a minimum, guided by the belief that thoughtful making means creating less, but with greater intention.

The resulting vessels and wall pieces exist somewhere between object and presence — tactile, grounded, and quietly expressive. Designed to bring warmth, calm, and stillness into a space, they offer a gentle counterpoint to the pace of modern life.