On the eve of International Migration Day on December 18, Elvira explains how art and the quiet force of creativity have helped her get through three tumultuous years.
As kyiv bears the weight of war, inside the showroom of Crimean Tatar ceramist Elvira Demerdzhi, her ceramics offer a fragile refuge and a reminder of home.
Crimean roots
Elvira’s story begins long before she shaped her first piece of clay. Her mother, pregnant with her, returned from Uzbekistan to Crimea in 1989, when the Crimean Tatars returned home after decades of exile.
His grandmother, deported at the age of nine in 1944, was the only survivor of her family.
Elvira Demerdzhi produces vessels inspired by traditional Crimean Tatar pottery.
Elvira’s great-grandfather, who was fighting against Nazi Germany at the time, was exiled and joined her years later.
The family rebuilt their life in Crimea, where Elvira grew up, free to roam the southern coast from which they were once torn.
Before turning to ceramics, Elvira spent twelve years as a professional dancer and performance artist.
Russian annexation of Crimea
After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, she lost her home and displacement pushed her toward new forms of expression. Drawn to something more stable, she enrolled in a private ceramics studio in kyiv and set out to learn everything she could, including how to run a business.
Clay became both a craft and a form of self-discovery. “When I was displaced after the annexation, I started studying the Crimean Tatar lands and realized how little we really knew about the places we came from.”
For Elvira, each piece is based on the places she carries within her, reflecting the landscapes and memories of her childhood and identity.
His studio, “Aqyar Ceramics,” bears the Crimean Tatar name of his native Sevastopol. While traditional Crimean Tatar pottery is known for its colorful floral ornamentation, Elvira opted for a modern, minimalist approach. He works mainly with stone clay.
Elvira Demerdzhi sells her work through her brand Aqyar Ceramics.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Elvira sought temporary safety in the Netherlands. He could have stayed, but returning to kyiv seemed necessary, since it was his home.
In October 2025 alone, Russia launched 269 missiles against Ukraine, the highest number recorded in the first ten months of the year, according to official figures. After such periods of intense bombardment, sales often drop sharply.
IOM Business Support
“Crafts need stability and now I can only dream of that for my business,” says Elvira.
Still, some days bring small signs of progress.
Families of military personnel attend his master classes, enjoying the concentration and calm that clay demands. Customers are looking for meaningful gifts. Restaurants and hotels place orders for handmade tableware.
This year, Elvira received a business grant from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which allowed her to purchase additional equipment and materials. With his grandmother he was able to collaborate with other ceramists and accept large orders.
Elvira Demerdzhi holds plates that reflect her Crimean Tatar roots.
Between 2022 and 2025, IOM helped more than 1,800 Ukrainian micro and small businesses stay afloat amid the pressures of a wartime economy.
Rebuilding her business is just part of Elvira’s life. She is also raising her six-year-old son, hoping to pass on her Crimean Tatar heritage to him when he is ready.
“He knows where he comes from, but I want to protect him a little more,” she said.