Meet Allison Shawn, Founding father of SOMBRA Ceramics Studio

All Fired Up is our Store’s month-to-month handmade ceramics drop, curated by Food52, and all from small and native makers. This month, we’re that includes LA-based artist Allison Shawn of SOMBRA Studio Ceramics.

For Allison Shawn, it wasn’t a query of if she was going to run her personal enterprise—it was merely a query of when. And possibly what too. Should you’d instructed her in faculty—and even 5 years after—that ceramics could be her future, she in all probability wouldn’t have believed you.

Actually, she won’t have believed she was doing ceramics in any respect.

After taking a wheel-throwing class in highschool, she set clay apart for almost a decade to pursue a full-time profession in structure. However when she appears at a few of her favourite items now, she nonetheless sees the affect of these early days. “The magic of the kiln appeared actually thrilling,” she explains. “I simply liked the fabric and the method and the way completely immersive it was.”

Fortunately for all of us, the Los Angeles-based artist and founding father of SOMBRA Studio Ceramics finally discovered her manner again to the studio. A interest first rekindled through the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, ceramics rapidly grew to become greater than only a pastime. “It was this place of refuge and freedom for me,” she says, reflecting on how the craft has at all times retained these qualities.

Once we join, it is a sunny afternoon in her Northeast LA condo. A sleepy canine rests at her toes, and inexperienced crops are scattered across the room—an intentional backdrop that mirrors her method to each life and her enterprise.

Quick ahead to at this time, and Allison is working a full-time studio from her house. “It’s simply such a particular factor that has at all times pulled me again,” she says.

Most just lately, we collaborated together with her for our month-to-month All Fired Up ceramics drop, that includes an unique assortment from SOMBRA.

To be taught extra in regards to the inspiration behind these items and Allison’s journey, we caught up together with her for a chat in regards to the evolution of her craft.

How did you get into ceramics?

I began in highschool. It was one of many two artwork lessons I might take, and I’d by no means had a possibility to work with clay earlier than. The magic of the kiln appeared actually thrilling, so I began doing it and it immediately grew to become one thing I liked—the fabric, the method, how completely immersive it was. Once you’re working with clay, you are not doing anything. You are actually lined in mud, so that you don’t even need to contact a doorknob—actually not a cellphone, you recognize?

So that you didn’t research it in faculty in any respect?

Not likely. I used to be capable of take a category right here and there, however it was way more restricted. And structure was so all-consuming—as a career and a inventive outlet—it type of took all the things I had. I didn’t actually have any inventive juice left over for it.

Ceramics and structure are each artwork varieties, however they’re fairly totally different. How do they evaluate?

There are numerous issues that overlap between the 2 practices. They’re each very spatial, and each are in regards to the finish consumer. However they’re additionally fairly totally different. Structure is extraordinarily exacting and exact. There’s no spontaneity as a result of all the things needs to be deliberate to the nth diploma—ensuring everyone seems to be glad, from the purchasers to town, to constructing codes, fireplace inspections, contractors.

After which ceramics is the exact opposite. It’s quick, in your arms. Every batch of clay is totally different, so you need to be conscious of the fabric within the second.

Do you keep in mind the second when ceramics began to shift from being a inventive outlet to a profession?

It was a sluggish evolution. Sooner or later, it grew to become much less in regards to the enterprise itself and extra in regards to the way of life I envisioned for myself. I’d look into the long run and simply didn’t see myself in an workplace, on a pc in any respect. I noticed myself leaning totally into the enterprise.

That way of life simply felt way more pure. I used to be at all times in response and collaboration with what was occurring, moderately than dwelling in what can generally really feel like a faux e-mail world, the place we’re inventing deadlines and stressing out about them, regardless that they’re not essentially actual.

I feel that may be actually daunting, although. Had been you nervous? Or was it identical to, “This enterprise is taking off, and I’m following that path”?

There was positively some nervousness. However, I had at all times had an concept that I needed to work for myself. That was by no means actually in query—it was only a matter of what the enterprise could be, and when it could occur.

I initially thought I’d attempt to do each structure and ceramics—discover house for each. However over the subsequent couple of years, I noticed: this enterprise is the place the expansion is and I might see a path ahead that felt holistic and full.

Going again to your loved ones’s enterprise, are there any particular classes from these early days that you simply nonetheless incorporate into your individual enterprise at this time?

Completely. One of many greatest classes I discovered from watching my dad and mom, particularly my dad, develop the household enterprise was the concept that high quality units the tone. It’s not simply in regards to the high quality of the product itself, however the high quality of each interplay and relationship surrounding it. My dad actually taught me that if you set a excessive bar, all the things round you rises to satisfy it.

It’s this mindset that I’ve carried into SOMBRA: high quality and belief elevate all the things round you. It creates a tradition of integrity, and that turns into the expectation.

Your items are sometimes described as objects meant to be cherished for years. Do you will have a bit in your house that holds deep which means for you?

There’s a serving bowl I made again in highschool and it’s adopted me into each condo I’ve lived in. At first, it was only a piece I liked, however as I received again into ceramics, it grew to become a reminder of how far I’ve come as a craftsman. It’s like if you meet a five-year-old and you may already see their character—this bowl, although tough, already had the weather that I might develop into as a designer.

It’s a particular piece as a result of, once I take a look at it now, I see the start of one thing a lot bigger. It jogs my memory of my journey and the way the muse for what I do now was at all times there.

Lastly, are you able to share a bit extra about this explicit assortment?

The gathering is a mixture of each Daniel [Zunino’s] enter and my very own changes. It was necessary to me that every one the items might dwell collectively in a house, whereas nonetheless exploring a variety of methods and types I exploit with SOMBRA. The gathering strikes a stability between type and performance, all whereas talking the identical design language. I needed the items to really feel important but additionally expressive—objects meant for use and lived with every single day.

Do you will have a specific piece you’re particularly pleased with?

It’s laborious to choose, however one piece I’m actually pleased with is a ribbed vase with a fluted texture on the surface. The approach for that piece took a very long time to excellent. I’ve to form it with only one hand as a substitute of two, which will be difficult as a result of when you make a transfer, it’s everlasting. I’m actually pleased with attending to a spot the place I had sufficient management to create that texture exactly.