LA-based ceramicist Morgan Peck fell in love with clay as a high school student. Her mother taught drawing and painting, but she was naturally drawn towards ceramics, taking every class her school offered—twice! 

We’re delighted to feature Morgan’s work in our shop. Scroll on to dig into her creative process.

After school, Morgan turned her attention towards photography:

“My work with photography and developing photos helped me not be afraid of going for it. I like learning as I go.”

A community ceramics class reignited her interest in the medium, and the rest is abundant, creative history.

On hand-building and creating signature designs, like her Stretch Vases:

“It's a long process to come up with something that sticks, a design that is popular for a long time.”

On starting with play (when possible):

“The designs that I make now did come out of playing when I felt no pressure… I was just having fun and seeing what I can do. Now I run a full-time business and don’t have as much time to play…

The designs slowly turned into something I like. Over the years, I changed little parts of them, making them more honed in.”

For years, Peck was adamant about not wanting to make vases. 

“I thought they were boring… I only made sculptures for a long time, resisting making a vase. I started messing around and coming up with things that I liked. Lo and behold, I sold them! 

I like vases; I’ve always been into flowers. I don’t know why I resisted making vases for so long…. I’ve grown to really embrace them. They are an object that people understand.”

Today, Peck is a mother of two children and owns a successful ceramic design business in Los Angeles. Being in California is an important part of Peck's identity and creative process.

“I’m such a West Coast person… Being in a big city like LA gives you opportunities to do things with art and design that you wouldn't get in a small city. There are a lot of people here interested in wacky stuff…

I am constantly inspired by LA, all its different architectural styles jammed together in one place.”

On meeting a broader audience with The Hōm Market:

“I imagine it all the time, who are the people that go into this store? I'm very curious about all of it. And I wish I could follow a piece home and see where it ends up… 

It's still thrilling to me even though I produce hundreds of these vases. I still wonder where is this one gonna go, who's gonna see it, who's gonna hold it, and who's gonna use it?”

On running a successful ceramics studio: 

“It feels great. I feel surprised all the time, especially when a store like Hōm wants my stuff. It's still exciting.”

Thank you, Morgan, for sharing your life and work with us!