Nicole Hsieh is a ceramicist and public school art teacher who has been handcrafting housewares with clay since 1992.  She makes all of her pieces from her home studio in San Francisco with either stoneware or porcelain, adorning them with slip, underglaze and hand-drawn flowers.  Her ceramics appear to be taken from another era, evoking the sentimentality of family heirlooms and other antique pottery.  Eventually, they will each fulfill their purpose by becoming heirlooms of their own, passed on with care from one generation to the next.

 

All of her pieces feature bold floral motifs and 22-karat gold accents, functioning just as well on their own or as a set.  Despite the lack of vibrant colors, her style evokes a lively and cheerful mood, reminiscent of patterns from the 1960s and 70s.  Almost like human beings, every item she creates has its own personality and imperfections.  As a mother, educator, and artist, Hsieh hopes to convey a sense of authenticity in her work and inspire others to express themselves through art.