Kainuu kaolin is a wild clay project started by Katariina Guthwert in 2021. The project aims to raise awarness on how to collect and use local unprocessed natural clay, also known as wild clay. The starting point of the project was the artist's urge to find Finnish high-fire clay. With the help of Geological Survey of Finland Guthwert managed to locate a suitable kaolin clay deposit in the town of Puolanka in Kainuu area.

Finnish kaolin is currently not used, even if kaolin is imported in large quantities from abroad. It is an essential material in ceramics, and also a much used industrial raw material. The goal of the project is to make kaolin of Puolanka available to as many people as possible. Since 2021 many artists and potters have gotten their hands on kaolin clay. 40 artists from Finland and abroad have participated in Kainuu kaolin group exhibitions.

A wild clay themed Kaolin festival has been organized in Puolanka in 2022 and in 2024) and Orimattila in 2023. The next Kainuu kaolin exhibition will be held at the KWUM ceramics museum in Fiskars on November 9, 2024 – March 30, 2025. Guthwert has used Finnish kaolin clay and other local wild clays in her pieces.