WATSON CERAMICS

Howdy!

I’m Ariel, the artist behind Watson Ceramics.
Based in Austin, Texas, I work primarily in sculpture and printmaking, but clay has become an enduring part of my creative practice. What began as a curiosity has grown into a deep love for the medium — and, through it, a way to connect art with daily life.

Watson Ceramics is rooted in a love for food and the ritual of making. Each piece is made with the kitchen in mind — for preparing, serving, storing, and enjoying. Over the past four years, I’ve launched small-batch ceramic collections inspired by the experience of cooking and gathering around the table.

SMALL BATCH

It began with *The Breakfast Collection**, drawn from the vibrant oranges and blues of Palo Duro Canyon. Then came* *The Lunch Collection**, influenced by the quiet beauty of birch trees in Door County. And finally,* *The Dinner Collection**, with its palette shaped by the soft, yet vivid colors of Mexico City.*

This year, my focus has shifted inward — toward the idea of home.

In January, my family lost our home in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. While my parents and their rambunctious cat are safe and settled elsewhere, the loss of physical possessions, living memories, and placehood are deeply felt.

In the aftermath, I noticed what was still standing — fireplaces, many of the trees, and clay pots. Clay endures. That quiet resilience has deepened my respect for this material and the process of working with it.

And so, for my fourth collection — The Home Collection — I’m thinking about the vessels and tools that anchor a kitchen. The essentials we reach for when beginning again, when creating a sense of place from scratch.