Feature image: “The Wonderland - Porcelain” by DodoChang. Photo courtesy of DodoChang on Instagram.
5 Potters You Need to Follow on Instagram
Unearthing new talents and influencers is one of the, albeit few, joys of social media. The online world has made marketing and discoverability a breeze. Depending on your algorithm, your feed may be lacking in the art department, specifically pottery. But fear not. We've handpicked five potters you can support and follow on Instagram to give your feed a fresh, artistic twist.
Pottery, a medium that has graced human civilization since the ancient people of Earth, dating back to 29,000 BC, is an art form of exquisite beauty. It is a testament to human creativity, using clay, water, and fire to create masterpieces. Potters have transformed pottery from basic human needs like plates and cups to decorative wall hangings. Pottery has become one of the most accessible art mediums; you don’t need to buy supplies. Simply go outside, dig, collect clay and water, and sculpt for an earthy, natural gem. This accessibility is what makes pottery a genuinely inspiring art form.
Here are five potters you need to follow on Instagram.
1. Hazel Brady (@HazelBean_Ceramics)
Hazel’s creations capture a two-dimensional cozy room like a television show set. Each piece is like a glimpse into someone’s window, someone’s life; her art symbolizes a moment in time, captured using not a camera but clay, water, and fire. Hazel carefully hand-paints every piece, making each order custom and cared for.
Aside from the room scenes, Hazel also creates villages and outdoor scenery on ceramic trays. The duality of her hand-made pieces adds additional uniqueness. Like most artists—especially small businesses—her brand relies on commissions. Hazel has done custom pieces of houses, such as Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island mansion or a client’s living room. These wall hangings and dishes are the perfect addition to add a personalized touch to your home.
2. Michelle Sieg (@apairofplants)
Ever wonder why we get to explore fashion and accessorizing, but your beloved houseplants get boring bottoms? Luckily, Miche Sieg, owner of A Pair of Plants, has. A new approach to plant vases is here, and Miche did not disappoint. Like most of us, Sieg needed a reason to leave the house mid-pandemic in 2020. Soon enough, she found herself frequenting pottery studios and mastering the skill.
What started as a not-so-serious faux product campaign soon became a solid business with a highly demanding clientele.
“Because I wasn’t planning on making a real business at the time, I put them up on the brand's faux website for a high price point. I didn't really intend or care to sell them...but then…people actually bought them! and it took off from there,” Sieg recalls.
Miche Seig custom creates ceramic pants of all shapes and sizes just for your plants. She takes inspiration from a range of celebrities, including Harry Styles and basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal; the former she tributes to being one of the first designs to boost her business. Miche replicates the pants of iconic outfits and trends, allowing your plants to express themselves, too.
Her plant pants showcase the diversity we see simply through clothes. At the beginning of the business, Sieg sold small-batch collections called Panty Drops, but her door was also open to custom orders.
“What really made the brand pop off were the ideas everyone was bringing to me inspired by the few pant creations I had made... I was like, 'Oh, this is much bigger than vintage-style pants like I thought—it's all pants.’”
From goths to punks to veterans to doctors, “we all wear pants,” Sieg declares. It is a symbol of unity and how, at our core, we are all equals.
Now, Sieg plans to stay on the lookout for pop culture moments and whacky street style while workshopping new business ideas, products, and ways to get more pants on your plants on a large scale.
3. Dodo Chang (@do.do.chang)
Whimsical and child-like joy: two simple ways to describe Dodo Chang’s pottery. Since 2019, the Australian-based artist has transformed standard clay into watercolored fantasy creatures. From wall hangings to tree-shaped candle holders, each piece features a woodland creature that takes you back to your favorite childhood storybook.
Variation is key in the creative industry. Luckily, Dodo Chang’s store catalog is filled with a little something for everyone. You can find delicate island town jewelry dishes or decorative porcelain spoons with a precious animal sculpture through the Etsy store. Regardless of the size and purpose, every piece is handcrafted and watercolor painted with love and precision.
4. Aditi Mittal (@_maditiss__)
Ceramistic Aditi Mittal creates a range of functional designs with a nostalgic academic twist.
Mittal’s Kaagaz collection transcends you back to school in a less-than-exciting class, doodling in the back to make time pass by. The mugs and plates are formed as doodled notebook paper with notes, tic tac toe, and secret messages. Aside from this collection being incredibly unique, the doodled paper tells a story of someone’s thoughts and feelings. With her design-focused background, Mittal’s idea generation stems from her love of doodling. I had the honor of interviewing Mittal to get a deeper insight into her work.
“I find myself always creating, whether it's a painting on a wall, canvas, doodle in the diary, ceramic pieces, or visual design work,” Mittal stated.
Finding the balance between creativity and owning a business can be difficult, especially when you are the sole creator of a small business. Like many small business owners, Mittal encounters challenges in balancing between financial gain and creative freedom.
“There is no point in doing a business if you are not ready to take the risk. There are good days, and there are bad days. But the important thing is how much you are learning out of it. It's the utmost priority.”
Her art embodies the idea that art knows no bounds. Though the basis of her pieces is a simple mug or plate, the design and painting components set her apart from the ordinary potter. Her designs are what make the mug so unique. The sketchy designs add an “undone” aspect, on par with the handmade nature of pottery.
Originally starting as a muralist, then a graphic designer, and now ceramics, Mittal revisits her passion for murals and installation art when she’s not visiting the kiln. Mittal also spends her free time at the ceramic studio teaching others to master their pottery skills.
5. Laura Caporossi (@bymyostudio)
If you are partial to the fun and flirty Coquette trend, then you are going to love this next potter.
Myo Studio is a one-stop shop for adorable, high-quality ceramics and homeware. Based in Italy, Myo Studio owner Lauren Caporossi focuses on femininity and the Coquette aesthetic. Each piece is meticulously crafted unique in every mug, dish, and bowl. Some of her handmade mugs have funky handles, divots to easily grab the mug, gold plating, or decorative flowers along the rim.
Self-inspiration is often hard to come by, especially in a world constantly surrounded by new ideas and muses. Caporossi's adoration for her mug prints has reached a new outlet: bedding. Earlier this year, Caporossi released a few bedding sets with designs inspired by her mug patterns. It is the perfect match: snuggled up in bed with your cup of tea matching your bedding.
Myo Studio’s creations are perfect for a touch of girliness to your Instagram feed or home.
The New and The Old
Alongside the shift in how we communicate is the shift in how we advertise. Social media has allowed millions of people to connect with one another while also being exposed to artists from all around the world.
Pottery has lived parallel to humans for millions of years, evolving with our interests and cultures. Whether it is a primitive, raw terracotta pot or a glossy glaze woodland creature jewelry dish, ceramics is a universal and malleable medium for all aesthetics.
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