Can you tell us how your journey with clay began? Was there a moment when you knew this was your medium?

My journey with clay began unexpectedly in the winter of 2021, when I signed up for a beginner pottery class with my then 7 year old son. I didn’t know anything about ceramics but was curious to try it. At the time, I was at a turning point in my life—I knew I no longer wanted to work in an office and was exploring where my true interests lay.

Everything happened very quickly from there. I fell in love with clay on the very first day of class. Watching an object take shape under my hands felt magical. I had never made anything with my hands before, aside from crafts with my son, and had no prior experience in art. The studio itself left a deep impression on me - a large, light filled space with high ceilings, full of independent artists working with clay. I immediately felt - this is where I want to spend my days.

After just two months of classes, I became a studio member and started posting my work on Instagram. At the time, my therapist told me, “If you want to know whether pottery can be more than a hobby, you need to offer it for sale and see the interest.” I was nervous, but I did it. My first few tiny bud vases sold within 15 minutes of posting them on Instagram. That moment gave me so much energy and motivation to keep creating.

What inspires you right now, in this season of your life—emotionally, visually, or spiritually?

Simplicity. I find myself craving fewer distractions, more nature and quiet moments. That’s why I’m so drawn to raw clay. Left unglazed, it carries a quiet power. Nature has already given it everything it needs: calming muted tones, a grounding texture and a deeply tactile quality that invites touch. There’s no need to add more. The more I work with it, the more I believe clay was meant to soothe us.

Authenticity. I no longer plan every detail when I sit down to work. I follow the rhythm of the material and let the form emerge. Each piece takes on its own unique character - intuitive and unrepeatable. I’ve come to experience a similar process in my life. I’m tired of trying to be someone I’m not or striving for perfection. Authenticity has become a core value for me. My work is a reflection of that - natural, imperfect and entirely its own.

Do you see your work as a form of storytelling, or more as a personal language?

I see it as a personal language that expresses my values more than a specific story. Each piece I make reflects what I’m drawn to in life - simplicity, presence, and authenticity. I’m not trying to craft a perfect narrative or polished outcome. I follow the rhythm of the material and let the form take shape intuitively.

The textures, muted tones and raw surfaces I work with speak to a quieter kind of beauty—something grounded and honest. In many ways, my work is how I process and express who I am and how I want to move through the world.

Clay and wire are simple materials, but you make them feel alive. What do they mean to you on a deeper level?

Both clay and wire are incredibly responsive. Clay, especially, feels like a living material. It remembers every touch. It’s soft and flexible at the beginning, turning into strength through fire. It mirrors my own transformation in many ways. Wire is different, more structured but still full of possibility. It gives me a way to extend form and add contrast. Working with both has taught me to let go of control. 

Looking back, what has surprised you most about the path you’ve taken as an artist?

The ability to create with my hands. It was completely unexpected and so exciting! I used to think artists were a special kind of person, born with a talent the rest of us didn’t have. But becoming an artist at the age of 41, after living most of my life without feeling that I had any special talent, taught me something different: we all have something unique within us. I wouldn’t even call it a talent anymore, I’d call it a gift. A gift we all carry, waiting to be discovered and shared with the world.