Perhaps the pandemic had something to do with it. I’ve noticed clay is going mainstream in a way not seen since Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze cinematically explored its erotic potential. Instagram hosts a growing number of pottery channels. New studios have popped up nearby in real life. Artists like Roberto Lugo and Virgil Ortiz have broken through in a way ceramic artists infrequently do. Even celebrities like Seth Rogan and Brad Pitt are getting into the act. 

It inspired me to design this series of scenes highlighting four supremely awkward and magical moments in the ceramic process. Here, playful pop aesthetics combine with the time-honored technique of cuerda seca — a wax-resist process from the 10th century al-Andalus. Living in a time when the default mood can feel so heavy, I found it refreshing to focus on technique, design, style and humor.