Creating a Large Ceramic Fruit Bowl for a Modern Café

How a social media message turned into my largest custom piece

I still remember reading Craig’s first message on Instagram. He had come across my work while scrolling and wanted to know if I would be interested in creating a Large Ceramic Fruit Bowl for a new café space he was building at Connect Labs Charlotte. The café was part of a modern building supporting a medical school, with a strong focus on health, wellness, and community.

He sent photos of the space, explained how the café would function, and described the bowl as a central piece rather than an afterthought. It wasn’t meant to sit on a shelf. It needed to live at the heart of the café, filled with fresh fruit and seen daily by students, staff, and visitors. From the start, Craig gave me full creative freedom on color and form, trusting me to respond to the space itself. That kind of trust is rare, and I didn’t take it lightly.

Designing and building at a new scale

This bowl ended up being the largest piece I’ve made to date, measuring 22 inches in diameter (barely fitting my kiln). Working at that scale changes everything. I handbuilt the bowl using stoneware clay, starting with an extremely large slab that required patience and careful handling just to move without stress cracks.

I sculpted the form slowly, shaping the walls by hand and paying close attention to balance and weight. I chose to flutter the edges to give the bowl movement, but I softened and smoothed the edges intentionally since the bowl would be used in a public space. Function mattered just as much as form.

After drying, the bowl went through its bisque firing. Once it was ready for glaze, I leaned into my signature ocean blues. I wanted the color to bring life into the space without overwhelming it. The glaze was applied by hand, layered to allow variation and natural movement during the high firing. When it came out of the kiln, the surface had depth and subtle shifts in tone that felt calm and grounded.

Seeing the ceramic bowl in its intended home

Delivering the bowl to Connect Labs Charlotte was one of those moments that reminded me why I do this work. The scale immediately made sense in the space. The bowl didn’t feel oversized or decorative. It felt intentional, like it belonged there.

Craig filled it with fruit right away, and that was when the piece truly came alive. The color of the glaze worked beautifully against the modern interior, and the bowl did exactly what it was meant to do. It invited people in without demanding attention.

This is the kind of piece that works in more than just a café. I can easily see a bowl like this centered on a large kitchen island, a communal dining table, or even staged in a modern loft where it becomes both functional and sculptural.

Why community-based projects matter to me

Connect Labs Charlotte actively supports local artists by incorporating artwork throughout their facility. Knowing that my work would live in a space that values creativity and community made the project even more meaningful. As a local ceramic artist, being trusted to contribute something permanent to a place like this is an honor.

Projects like this remind me that handmade pottery isn’t just about objects. It’s about how those objects are used, where they live, and how they quietly support everyday moments.

Looking back, this Large Ceramic Fruit Bowl represents more than a custom commission. It represents trust, collaboration, and the role handmade work can play in modern, thoughtful spaces.