Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Loram
Maria, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey in ceramics began after my divorce, which, despite being amicable, marked a significant turning point in my life. Everything changed—I moved out, shifted my lifestyle, and soon found myself deeply in love with a new partner who helped me reconnect with my spiritual and artistic sides. Before this, my focus had been on the scientific and rational aspects of myself, working as a one-on-one tutor in math, science, and languages.
One day, early in this new chapter, I was walking by a pottery studio, and the idea struck me: how amazing it would be to join a place like that. Around the same time, I discovered some ceramic pieces that really resonated with me—little Japanese-style cups that I thought I could create myself, but in a way that was exactly how I envisioned them. From the very beginning, I had a clear vision of the aesthetics I was drawn to, and I could easily distinguish what I liked and disliked. I believe this sense of aesthetics comes from my family background, particularly my mom, who is a fashion designer. Despite living in a tiny village in the middle of nowhere, she runs her own fabric store and creates costumes. Her creativity and business acumen have always been an inspiration.
Growing up, I was surrounded by classical arts and often drew as a child, but I never worked with clay until just over two years ago. My journey truly began when I bought my first pottery wheel—a $100 find on Facebook Marketplace. It was a big step for me, as I wasn’t sure if I would commit to it or even enjoy it enough to keep going. But soon after, I enrolled in a local pottery course, and later, community college classes, and that was the real start of my ceramics journey.
After I started taking community classes, I dived deeper into ceramics by enrolling in courses on glaze calculation, which helped me slowly develop my own style. I opened an Etsy store, launched a website, and started participating in markets and art fairs—doing everything a typical emerging ceramic artist would do to get their work out there. Over time, I began exhibiting my art in galleries across France, the UK, and the US. I’m still working towards my first solo show, which would be an exciting milestone as I continue to grow and expand my presence in the art world.
Beyond the craft itself, ceramics opened a lot of doors for me that I was too afraid to pursue, whether it was developing my online presence through social media or online courses, or offering workshops, both locally and internationally. It’s also a future opportunity to build my own business and studio, and perhaps one day, even a community studio. I’m also planning on writing a book on ceramics, diving into the chemistry behind the glazes I love. Currently, I consider myself an emerging artist, and I’m excited to be working on an online course for ceramic artists, which I plan to launch at the end of October. Looking back, my previous jobs and career as a private tutor taught me so much, but I never quite found that singular focus. I was always a bit of a Renaissance person, interested in everything but not diving deeply into one thing. Ceramics changed that. When I started working with clay, I realized that this was it—this was what I had been searching for all along.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, like any other creative endeavor, diving into ceramics has had its challenges and struggles. I’ve always felt a strong desire to find an outlet for self-expression throughout my life, and in many ways, I was preparing for the moment when I could finally find a field where I could express myself fully. When I discovered ceramics, I felt ready to dive in and act on that passion.
While there have been many challenges along the way, such as facing rejections, overcoming the fear of approaching people, and developing various facets of my business, I’ve found these challenges to be oddly pleasant. They are part of the journey, and I embrace them because I’m so committed to what I’m doing. However, one of the biggest struggles for me right now is time—specifically, how time-consuming the marketing side of my business is. As a single female entrepreneur and artist, I find myself spending about 90% of my time on marketing—whether it’s through social media, reaching out to interior designers, seeking gallery opportunities, or collaborating with fine art advisors.
I manage all these tasks on my own as I work to gain more exposure and establish my name. It’s a time-consuming process that often pulls me away from the act of creation and the exploration of my own style. Unfortunately, this is part of the self-expression process, too. If my work isn’t seen or visible, I don’t feel fully self-expressed. For me, an important part of self-expression is sharing it with the outer world because, on a personal level, I already feel very happy and fulfilled.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ceramics, for me, is not just about creating functional or decorative objects; it’s about exploring a field full of possibilities and opportunities for self-expression. I’ve always had a strong vision of what I want to create, and that has guided me throughout my journey. My work involves a deep interest in researching materials, particularly natural and sustainable resources like local clays, rocks, and sand. I care deeply about nature and believe that the way we treat nature reflects how we treat ourselves. This philosophy drives me to seek out sustainable materials and methods, ensuring that my art is in harmony with the environment. By using local materials, I strive to honor the land and create pieces that are not just art, but a reflection of our connection to the earth.
My ceramics are deeply influenced by my broad background and curiosity across various fields. I’ve always been fascinated by the universe and how it works, the laws that govern it, and mysterious phenomena like black holes, star formations, and dark matter. This fascination extends to my exploration of the relationship between time and space, and these cosmic elements are reflected in the aesthetics and philosophy of my work. I am equally influenced by deep philosophical questions about the ego, the self, and universal consciousness.
Throughout this journey, I’ve found myself particularly drawn to spherical forms. To me, spheres symbolize the earth, the cosmos, and the perfection of form across cultures and philosophies. My ceramics often embrace this spherical nature, reflecting the centripetal motion of the universe. I focus on creating vessels, not just for their functionality, but also because of my deep influence from Eastern philosophies, particularly the idea of the absence of self as a core principle. This belief in interconnectedness through understanding the absence of self deeply informs my work. I see each vessel as a metaphor for the self—hollow and open, yet defined by its boundaries and surface, much like how we interact with the world.
The textures on my ceramics are intentionally rich, reflecting my connection with the material and the tactile, physical aspects of our world and capturing the raw and rugged nature of the materials. By incorporating locally sourced, sustainable materials, and exploring rough, textural glazes, I aim to create pieces that not only tell a story of place but also of care and respect for the environment.
I see art as a mirror of life—the relationship we have with our creations reflects our relationship with existence itself. Whether we control what we make or let go and allow ourselves to play, whether we face blockages or limiting beliefs that stop us from creating, art is not just about the objects we produce; it’s about how we live our lives. Ceramics has taught me this lesson, and I strive to implement it in all aspects of my life.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In the arts, just being present in spaces where artists gather, following those you admire, and supporting others—like attending their openings and celebrating their successes—creates the best networking opportunities and genuine friendships. I don’t believe in approaching networking with the intent to gain something. Instead, true connections are built on mutual respect and understanding of each other’s work.
There’s no real competition in this world because many ideas float around and artists constantly influence one another. The more open and sharing you are, the more you’ll receive in return. Each person’s journey is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Someone you might view as a competitor is actually a friend because, by collectively raising the value of arts and crafts, we attract more customers together. It’s our shared responsibility to create high-quality work and support each other in this journey.
Pricing:
- Small bud vases – $50-100
- Medium vases $100-350
- Large vases $350+
- Wall decor – tbd
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loramceramics.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/loram.ceramics/
Image Credits
Photo of me holding a vase on the black background and the main photo near the ocean photo credit: Kseniya Shilova @xeniya_ph on Instagram.
The rest of the photos are courtesy of an artist (me!).
