Welcome to Beshland
Mateja Šijan's Journey
Mateja Šijan, the visionary behind Beshland, lives and works in Zagreb, Croatia, her birthplace. Her journey has taken her across Europe, enriching her artistic perspective with diverse cultural influences. After returning from England, Mateja settled in Zagreb and founded Beshland in 2021. Though a self-taught ceramicist, she has always been captivated by nature and raw materials, choosing clay as her primary medium for its boundless potential. Her inspiration stems from the memories and experiences collected while living in different countries and from the people she has met along the way. Each piece created by Mateja is a unique work of art, meticulously crafted using a variety of techniques, and hand-textured and glazed to perfection.
Our Publications & Mentions
We reveal to you a paradise of minimalist-style ceramics in Zagreb: Beshland Studio.
Ceramics has literally flourished in Croatia over the past few years. With numerous brands and workshops, not only does almost everyone today have at least one piece of ceramics in their kitchen or living room, but many have also tried their hand at this craft. Ceramics is calming, highly creative, and inspiring, reminding us to slow down and appreciate beautiful things, as well as rituals.
INTERVIEW: Mateja Šijan
PHOTO: MATEJA VRČKOVIĆ
"There are no shortcuts with clay because the moment you try to speed up or take a shorter path, the clay teaches you a lesson through a crack."
Ceramics has always been fascinating. If you’ve ever tried working with it, you know how it has an incredible ability to calm the mind, quiet thoughts, and provide a break from everyday life. Choosing ceramics as a calling sounds ideal, but like any profession, it comes with its own challenges.
Mateja recently returned to Zagreb. After spending several years living in Denmark, Norway, and England, she opened her Beshland Studio (@beshland_official)—a creative space and ceramics studio unlike any other in Croatia.
I would describe Mateja as a true artistic soul—someone who shies away from technology and media, wishing to be fully immersed in her craft and what she loves. She is a woman who prefers to keep things private, reserved, and someone I barely convinced to have this conversation. That’s why I am especially happy that you will hear about her for the first time right here on Noon.
I know it might sound cliché to say that you will instantly fall in love, but truly—Mateja is love at first sight. And then, everything else she has touched with her hands follows suit.
Beshland is a new Croatian brand that truly looks world-class. We want these cups!
The studio was named Beshland because everyone calls me Besh. In short, Beshland is a creative space, but it’s actually much more than that. It is my oasis of peace, a place where my creativity takes a tangible form, an exhibition studio where you can come to buy or simply admire ceramics, and a space where we hold ceramic workshops.
Soon, in collaboration with one of the most renowned artists in our region, we will also offer other types of workshops—so be sure to follow us!
We have found the most beautiful minimalist-style ceramic cups, and we wanted them instantly!
Over the past ten years, the craft of creating ceramic pieces has truly flourished, both globally and in Croatia. In recent times, more and more artistic studios with irresistible ceramic creations have been opening across the country, and the number of local creatives venturing into this craft is steadily growing!
Last year, Zagreb became home to a new and truly special ceramics studio—Beshland. Located in the Ravnice neighborhood, Beshland is run by creative Mateja Šijan, who, after returning from England, decided to start her own business in Zagreb.
Soon after, Mateja opened a beautifully designed, minimalist studio where visitors can explore her latest creations, as well as take part in various gatherings and workshops frequently held at Beshland.
For details on schedules and registrations, follow the official Instagram profile or visit the official website, where you can also purchase all Beshland products.
