MIRI MARA, A FORMER ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNER, BRINGS A UNIQUE TOUCH OF STYLE  TO THE CALIFORNIA CERAMICS WORLD. 

Miri was born in Rome and worked in Italian Couture. Miri worked in Pret a Porter for two decades in Milan before moving to California, where he discovered his fascination and love for clay. His ceramic store has been operating in beautiful Carpinteria, CA, since 2014. It is a small business that meets the elegant tastes of local clients and interior designers throughout the nation.

His beautiful ceramic works have been featured in all of the local and major publications, including C Magazine—the Golden State’s leading luxury lifestyle magazine. His work is at once sculptural and functional. He makes a small production of cast ceramic vases, bowls, cups, lamps, and pendants.

Miri utilizes clay slab to create models with traditional hand building techniques. Once a piece comes to fruition, he creates a plaster mold to caste a limited production. His designs are inspired by artists working in other genres and different epochs. Production involves slip casting followed by hand finishing with carved textured design. 

Of note, much of Miri’s work is patterned—an effect achieved by layers of glaze and multiple firings. The majority of his works are considered-one-a-kind, especially any ceramic piece that has an Sgraffito, Batik, or even a textured finish, because they involve manipulating the finished design by hand.

 "Mara’s bowls have what one looks for in a great design — they’re recognizably original, yet they also seem inevitable; it’s as though they’ve always been around."  

    -Art Critic, Charles Donelan