about me
Hi~ I'm Sara! I'm a ceramic artist based in Detroit, Michigan, specializing in wheel-thrown porcelain. Completely self-taught, I build upon a practiced and technical foundation to create precise, contemporary forms that serve as canvases for my meticulous surface work. Before pursuing ceramics, I was a full-time competitive ice dancer from childhood through early adulthood; the discipline, control, and pursuit of refinement I've developed on the ice continue to shape my artistic endeavors.
My work is rooted in the visual language of antique Chinese porcelain—thin, translucent bodies, fragile motifs, and intricate brushwork. I reinterpret these traditions through contemporary, often modern forms, creating contrast between historical aesthetics and modern silhouettes. By merging new interests and elements of my cultural heritage, I develops pieces that are striking and intentional in design. This blend allows me to connect past and present within the context of my personal experience.
Through this dialogue, I aim to bridge heritage with modern design language. I currently holds a position as an instructor and Class Coordinator at Still Life Studio in Ferndale, Michigan.
My work explores the relationship between contemporary ceramic design and pop culture nostalgia. I am drawn to creating clean, mid-century-informed shapes: sharp, delicate forms highlighting the limits of wheel-thrown porcelain. Much of my work revolves around pushing the material to its limit, achieving porcelain's beauty of translucency, allowing the work to feel light and airy while remaining functional.
Driving this process is my background in competitive ice dance. Training in that environment instilled in me a commitment to mastery along with consistency, which naturally carried over into ceramics. Porcelain has always felt like the perfect medium to express my commitment to quality. Its unforgiving nature mirrors the challenges I faced early on in life, and its elegance rewards the pursuit of perfection.
I continue to focus on achieving pristine finishes that provide me with canvases for my hand-painted illustrations—imagery informed by memories of childhood and the characters I so loved. I strive for technical precision and function of forms—and can relate to the cultural references imbued in my work, which combines discipline, value, memory, and joyful expression of self.