shelves of ceramic pottery by julie cloutier Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
Pottery is having a moment. Ceramics is no longer just thought of as a craft taken up in retirement or taught in elementary school. Mugs are no longer simply knick-knack memorabilia brought home from gift shops, but being sold alongside gorgeous jewelry and fancy clothing at places like Mociun and Steven Alan. Thanks to Instagram, ceramicists have been given a spotlight and more and more are actually able to foster careers making their functional-and beautiful-art. And noticeably, many of those leading the charge are women. Ahead, 10 female potters whose work you’ll want to start collecting immediately. RELATED: WINDY CHIEN MAKES EYE-POPPING MACRAMÉ CREATIONS tan blue and cream ceramic pitcher and cups Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi Helen Levi You may recognize Helen Levi’s signature marbled design. The waves of blues and grays decorate mugs and planters sold in cool web shops and boutiques across the country. They would be a happy addition to a succulent-filled window sill or a Saturday morning breakfast spread, but the Brooklyn-based potter has a lot more up her sleeve. marbled black and gray ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi We love her splatter and ombre pattern pieces as well, and this past summer, she released a sleek dinnerware line. RELATED: LEARN TO MAKE THIS GORGEOUS MARBLEIZED CERAMIC VASE ceramic bowls Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda Shino Takeda Ceramics Growing up in Japan, Shino Takeda’s mother was an avid collector of traditional Japanese ceramics, which garnered her interest in arts and crafts from a young age. But it wasn’t until 2010, that she took up pottery while living in New York City. It started as a hobby, but after two years she left her job to pursue it completely. ceramic teacup planter in living room Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda Her work is vibrant and full of life, with a sense of raw playfulness . “I am inspired by nature and what I see each season,” she says. “Every day there are different colors around me, I try and immerse myself in these colors and capture them in my work.” RELATED: THESE NATURE-INSPIRED COLORS ARE PERFECT FOR A BEDROOM white ceramic vessels on shelf Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab Clam Lab You could fill your home with Clair Catillaz of Clam Lab’s pieces. Their muted color palette and soft curves have a soothing quality that would complement any interior style from minimalist to boho. “My best pieces are tactile, timeless, and a little bit fun,” she says. After gaining popularity in the States, last year Catillaz had her first show in Japan. RELATED: THESE DECOR TRENDS WILL BE BIG IN 2019 clam lab white vases ceramics Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab “It was such an honor to be received in a country with such rich history of ceramic art,” she says. “But my most rewarding moments usually happen around the kiln-the scientific discoveries, the aesthetic breakthroughs and the wisdom and shared experience with other artists.” ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat Sarah Cihat Nashville-based potter Sarah Cihat’s pieces have evolved throughout the years. She started creating colorful and graphic dishware with a decidedly celestial slant, then moved onto more minimal hand-cast porcelain pieces with gold accents, then to black and white sets with a linear design. sarah cihat ceramic bowl Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat Though varied, all her pieces have something in common. “The one thing I want is for my work to have a lasting, timeless quality,” she says. “And that you will keep it in your home and your family for a long time.” Mission accomplished. ceramic food bowls with olives and dates Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics Cloutier Ceramics Julie Cloutier’s stoneware pieces are for every day use, but they still feel like something special you’d want to break out and fill with olives and nuts at your next dinner party. The Northern California resident makes bowls and cups, but also a cheeky stoneware jigsaw puzzle and her latest venture, light fixtures. “My previous career was in architecture,” she says. “So thinking of my work architecturally and tackling lighting with my clay shapes has been so fun.” natalie weinberger ceramic lamp Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Weinberger Natalie Weinberger Brooklyn-based potter, Natalie Weinberger, makes gorgeous yet functional stoneware vessels. “My aim is to make pots that have a sense of intrigue and quiet personality, while still retaining a practical use,” she tells us. Currently, she’s experimenting with new materials and riskier glazes, and has created a collection of stunning lamps. soto ceramics little vessels Credit: Courtesy of Soto Ceramics Soto Ceramics Minami Takahashi’s work for Soto Ceramics reflects Japanese tradition, but with a contemporary twist. When asked about the most exciting moment of her career so far, she responded: “Does every time I open the kiln count? Honestly, the daily act of working with clay is the most satisfying part.” soto ceramics little vessels Credit: Courtesy of Soto Ceramics She’s also collaborated with a handful of New York restaurants. “I love being able to work with a chef to bring something really meaningful to the dining room.” 80s inspired stoneware mugs Credit: Courtesy of Recreation Center Recreation Center It would be hard not to smile every time you open your cupboard if you were greeted with one of Recreation Center’s playful mugs or bowls. Josephine Noel, the potter behind the brand, wouldn’t have it any other way. “I like to take simple clean shapes and make them fun to look at - like a confetti party for your eyes,” she says. Her pieces are playful and reminiscent of the 1980s. And, if you want to really relive your childhood, Recreation Center makes stoneware lava lamps, too. turquoise ceramic pottery with oranges Credit: Courtesy of Pottery by Osa Pottery by Osa Osa Atoe makes pottery that would look lovely in a home or outside in a garden. She uses red clay for its color and earthy texture, and often glazes with turquoise, black and white accents. After living all across the United States, Atoe settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was happy, albeit a little surprised, to find such a nurturing artistic community for such a small city. “I’ve been a part Mid City Makers Market, an art market that started out with about ten makers a year ago and has blossomed to featuring over one hundred,“she says.
shelves of ceramic pottery by julie cloutier Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
shelves of ceramic pottery by julie cloutier Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
shelves of ceramic pottery by julie cloutier
Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
Pottery is having a moment. Ceramics is no longer just thought of as a craft taken up in retirement or taught in elementary school. Mugs are no longer simply knick-knack memorabilia brought home from gift shops, but being sold alongside gorgeous jewelry and fancy clothing at places like Mociun and Steven Alan. Thanks to Instagram, ceramicists have been given a spotlight and more and more are actually able to foster careers making their functional-and beautiful-art. And noticeably, many of those leading the charge are women.
Ahead, 10 female potters whose work you’ll want to start collecting immediately.
RELATED: WINDY CHIEN MAKES EYE-POPPING MACRAMÉ CREATIONS
tan blue and cream ceramic pitcher and cups Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi
Helen Levi
You may recognize Helen Levi’s signature marbled design. The waves of blues and grays decorate mugs and planters sold in cool web shops and boutiques across the country. They would be a happy addition to a succulent-filled window sill or a Saturday morning breakfast spread, but the Brooklyn-based potter has a lot more up her sleeve.
marbled black and gray ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi
We love her splatter and ombre pattern pieces as well, and this past summer, she released a sleek dinnerware line.
RELATED: LEARN TO MAKE THIS GORGEOUS MARBLEIZED CERAMIC VASE
ceramic bowls Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda
Shino Takeda Ceramics
Growing up in Japan, Shino Takeda’s mother was an avid collector of traditional Japanese ceramics, which garnered her interest in arts and crafts from a young age. But it wasn’t until 2010, that she took up pottery while living in New York City. It started as a hobby, but after two years she left her job to pursue it completely.
ceramic teacup planter in living room Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda
Her work is vibrant and full of life, with a sense of raw playfulness . “I am inspired by nature and what I see each season,” she says. “Every day there are different colors around me, I try and immerse myself in these colors and capture them in my work.”
RELATED: THESE NATURE-INSPIRED COLORS ARE PERFECT FOR A BEDROOM
white ceramic vessels on shelf Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab
Clam Lab
You could fill your home with Clair Catillaz of Clam Lab’s pieces. Their muted color palette and soft curves have a soothing quality that would complement any interior style from minimalist to boho. “My best pieces are tactile, timeless, and a little bit fun,” she says. After gaining popularity in the States, last year Catillaz had her first show in Japan.
RELATED: THESE DECOR TRENDS WILL BE BIG IN 2019
clam lab white vases ceramics Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab
“It was such an honor to be received in a country with such rich history of ceramic art,” she says. “But my most rewarding moments usually happen around the kiln-the scientific discoveries, the aesthetic breakthroughs and the wisdom and shared experience with other artists.”
ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat
Sarah Cihat
Nashville-based potter Sarah Cihat’s pieces have evolved throughout the years. She started creating colorful and graphic dishware with a decidedly celestial slant, then moved onto more minimal hand-cast porcelain pieces with gold accents, then to black and white sets with a linear design.
sarah cihat ceramic bowl Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat
Though varied, all her pieces have something in common. “The one thing I want is for my work to have a lasting, timeless quality,” she says. “And that you will keep it in your home and your family for a long time.” Mission accomplished.
ceramic food bowls with olives and dates Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
Cloutier Ceramics
Julie Cloutier’s stoneware pieces are for every day use, but they still feel like something special you’d want to break out and fill with olives and nuts at your next dinner party. The Northern California resident makes bowls and cups, but also a cheeky stoneware jigsaw puzzle and her latest venture, light fixtures. “My previous career was in architecture,” she says. “So thinking of my work architecturally and tackling lighting with my clay shapes has been so fun.”
natalie weinberger ceramic lamp Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Weinberger
Natalie Weinberger
Brooklyn-based potter, Natalie Weinberger, makes gorgeous yet functional stoneware vessels. “My aim is to make pots that have a sense of intrigue and quiet personality, while still retaining a practical use,” she tells us. Currently, she’s experimenting with new materials and riskier glazes, and has created a collection of stunning lamps.
soto ceramics little vessels Credit: Courtesy of Soto Ceramics
Soto Ceramics
Minami Takahashi’s work for Soto Ceramics reflects Japanese tradition, but with a contemporary twist. When asked about the most exciting moment of her career so far, she responded: “Does every time I open the kiln count? Honestly, the daily act of working with clay is the most satisfying part.”
She’s also collaborated with a handful of New York restaurants. “I love being able to work with a chef to bring something really meaningful to the dining room.”
80s inspired stoneware mugs Credit: Courtesy of Recreation Center
Recreation Center
It would be hard not to smile every time you open your cupboard if you were greeted with one of Recreation Center’s playful mugs or bowls. Josephine Noel, the potter behind the brand, wouldn’t have it any other way. “I like to take simple clean shapes and make them fun to look at - like a confetti party for your eyes,” she says. Her pieces are playful and reminiscent of the 1980s. And, if you want to really relive your childhood, Recreation Center makes stoneware lava lamps, too.
turquoise ceramic pottery with oranges Credit: Courtesy of Pottery by Osa
Pottery by Osa
Osa Atoe makes pottery that would look lovely in a home or outside in a garden. She uses red clay for its color and earthy texture, and often glazes with turquoise, black and white accents. After living all across the United States, Atoe settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was happy, albeit a little surprised, to find such a nurturing artistic community for such a small city. “I’ve been a part Mid City Makers Market, an art market that started out with about ten makers a year ago and has blossomed to featuring over one hundred,“she says.
tan blue and cream ceramic pitcher and cups Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi
tan blue and cream ceramic pitcher and cups
Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi
marbled black and gray ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Helen Levi
marbled black and gray ceramic dishes
ceramic bowls Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda
ceramic bowls
Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda
ceramic teacup planter in living room Credit: Courtesy of Shino Takeda
ceramic teacup planter in living room
white ceramic vessels on shelf Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab
white ceramic vessels on shelf
Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab
clam lab white vases ceramics Credit: Courtesy of Clam Lab
clam lab white vases ceramics
ceramic dishes Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat
ceramic dishes
Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat
sarah cihat ceramic bowl Credit: Courtesy of Sarah Cihat
sarah cihat ceramic bowl
ceramic food bowls with olives and dates Credit: Courtesy of Cloutier Ceramics
ceramic food bowls with olives and dates
natalie weinberger ceramic lamp Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Weinberger
natalie weinberger ceramic lamp
Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Weinberger
soto ceramics little vessels Credit: Courtesy of Soto Ceramics
soto ceramics little vessels
Credit: Courtesy of Soto Ceramics
80s inspired stoneware mugs Credit: Courtesy of Recreation Center
80s inspired stoneware mugs
Credit: Courtesy of Recreation Center
turquoise ceramic pottery with oranges Credit: Courtesy of Pottery by Osa
turquoise ceramic pottery with oranges
Credit: Courtesy of Pottery by Osa
