When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Serhii Martynko immediately joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For a little over a year, he served in the Armed Forces and was discharged in 2023 for health reasons. With his warehouse of finished ceramics still safely stored in Ukraine, he made the difficult decision to relocate to the United States to recover and continue his handmade business in a secure environment.
Three years later, Serhii’s brand, ClayProductsShop, has become one of the most successful independent handmade ceramic brands from Ukraine in the American market.
Since launching international online sales, Serhii has fulfilled more than 3,400 orders through Etsy alone — totaling over 25,000 individual ceramic pieces shipped worldwide. In 2024, he completed 504 orders, and in 2025, more than 550 orders, with over 90% of all sales going to customers in the United States. Strong sales also come through eBay and his own website, clayproductsshop.com. These figures demonstrate both sustained demand and recognition of Serhii’s craftsmanship in the United States and internationally.
His signature milk-fired tableware and decorative vessels — created using an ancient smoke-firing technique with no chemical glazes — are permanently featured in restaurants in the United States, Canada, and several European countries. Chefs and restaurant owners value the 100% food-safe, fully eco-friendly pieces, which highlight their practical and artistic significance.
Australian-American entrepreneur and collector Ryan Junee (founder of Parsable, former part-time partner at Y Combinator) discovered Serhii’s work at an art fair in Miami and stated:
“What makes Serhii’s work exceptional is the rare combination of technical mastery, cultural depth, and absolute ecological purity that I have not encountered among American ceramicists.”
He also confirmed that he has personally acquired several pieces and recommended Serhii’s work to other collectors in Silicon Valley. This serves as independent verification of Serhii’s international recognition and influence.
In Ukraine, Serhii earned broad recognition prior to the war:
• Active member of the Poltava Artists’ Creative Association “Zhyvopys”
• Exhibited at the Festival of Art and Artistic Objects (Festiwal Sztuki i Przedmiotów Artystycznych) at the Poznań International Fairgrounds, December 11–13, 2015
• Awarded First Place (1st Degree Diploma) in the regional stage of the All-Ukrainian competition and Maria Bashkirtseva Prize exhibition (2017)
• Received multiple official diplomas and recognitions from the Poltava Regional State Administration (2018–2021)
• Laureate of the international exhibition of the Polish diaspora in Poltava Region (2018)
• Regular participant in Ukraine’s largest folk festivals, including the National Sorochynsky Fair
Today, Serhii continues shipping pre-war stock from Ukraine while preparing new collections in the United States. In the near future, he plans to open his own pottery studio and school in America, where he will teach children and adults the ancient milk-firing technique and the power of handmade craft. This future contribution demonstrates his ongoing and significant impact on arts and culture in the United States.
“Clay became my therapy after the front lines,” Serhii says. “Every piece I create now carries centuries of Ukrainian tradition and a personal story of survival and new beginnings. I want to share that with the world.”
With over 25,000 pieces already in homes and restaurants around the globe and growing demand every month, Serhii Martynko exemplifies that true craftsmanship and extraordinary skill can thrive internationally and contribute meaningfully to cultural life in the United States.
Media Contact
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Contact Person: Iryna Baisak
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Country: Ukraine
Website: www.linkedin.com/in/iryna-baisak-774340193/
