Allison Neiss

I had heard for a long time that Potters Market at the Mint was an event I had to see, so last year I went with my mom and wandered through the museum, oohing and ahhing over all the pottery. There were so many incredible artists and pieces under one roof, and I couldn't stop thinking about it after we left. Somewhere in the middle of seeing all that amazing work, I remember thinking, I want to be part of this someday. At that point, it was just a goal. I went back to my studio and kept...

here’s a moment I notice in almost every home where my work ends up. It’s not when the bowl is first unwrapped. It’s later, when it gets placed on the table and the room quietly adjusts around it. That shift is what keeps me coming back to this form. I’ve been making handmade ceramic centerpiece bowls for dining tables for years, not because they’re trendy, but because they solve something simple I keep seeing people look for: a functional object that still feels intentional.

There is a particular stillness I love in my studio right before the clay starts to move. The slab is cool and smooth under my palms, and the whole piece is full of possibility. When I sat down to create this handbuilt stoneware serving platter, I honestly did not have a plan