All Fired Up is our Store’s month-to-month handmade ceramics drop, curated by Food52 and made by small and native makers. This month, we’re that includes Chicago-based artist Emily Christopherson of EMRIS studio.
For lots of artists, the dream is that somebody—perhaps a professor or a curator—spots their work and says, “You’ve acquired it.” Realistically, that not often occurs. However for Emily Christopherson, it sort of did.
“I had professors who would joke, ‘You’re within the arts college, proper?’” she informed me. On the time, she laughed it off. However ultimately, their confidence helped push her to switch from the College of Minnesota to the Faculty of the Artwork Institute of Chicago and totally decide to ceramics.
“I knew I actually preferred it,” she stated. “Nevertheless it didn’t really feel like an actual choice—I had sort of written it off.”
Earlier than making ceramics her full-time job, Emily managed a studio part-time, taught at faculties, and offered at markets round Chicago. You possibly can often spot her by the vibe of her sales space—sun-soaked, calm, and punctiliously organized. Her work has the identical power: considerate, grounded, and deeply tactile.
Her items are soft-edged however stone-like. You need to attain out and contact them. Colours keep heat and earthy—assume terracotta and stone grey. It’s the sort of assortment that simply works, it doesn’t matter what else is in your desk.
And sure, she is aware of the magic of a plate-bowl hybrid. She’s additionally keen on a pinch bowl—“there’s sort of a teeny bowl crew out on this planet,” she laughed.
Even the identify of her studio has a narrative. EMRIS is a mash-up of her and her dad’s names, created throughout a childhood reminiscence digging out just a little “lake” on the seashore.
“It simply felt becoming for somebody nonetheless sort of digging round in mud and sand,” she stated with a smile. And it’s an ode to her dad and mom, who’ve at all times inspired her to comply with her artistic instincts. “They’ve at all times been supportive of me pursuing what I’m enthusiastic about.”
This month, we’re fortunate to hold a few of Emily’s most beloved items in our Store, from textured pinch bowls to a brand new wavy serving platter impressed by a latest journey to Maine. “That one got here from exploring tide swimming pools and how rocks and shells get softened by the water,” she stated. “Lots of people mistake my work for stone or concrete at first as a result of I depart the outside unglazed.”
Her All Fired Up assortment pulls from her core lineup: “I picked items folks at all times gravitate towards,” she stated. That features the teeny bowls, spreaders, and stoneware with delicate leather-based touches—every one handmade in her Chicago studio (and sure, dishwasher protected).
Emily describes ceramics as a “sluggish burn.” She’s been throwing for fifteen years, promoting for six, and formally went full-time about two years in the past. And now, issues are taking off.
We caught as much as chat extra about her path to ceramics and the inspiration behind her new assortment.
How did you first get into ceramics?
I’ve at all times preferred working with my arms—and with clay particularly. Once I was youthful, my mother and I’d sit on the kitchen desk with Sculpey and make little creatures or coil pots. Then in highschool, I used to be fortunate sufficient to get right into a ceramics class my freshman 12 months, and I knew I wished to strive it.
What actually saved me there, although, was the group. I’m a bit extra introverted, so it was good to be round folks but additionally have one thing to deal with. I made a few of my closest associates by way of ceramics.
Did you find yourself finding out it all through school?
I did. I began on the College of Minnesota uncertain of what I wished to do. The uncertainty of an artist’s profession path scared me—there’s no apparent subsequent step. However I saved having academics and professors who inspired me, who had extra confidence in me than I did. Ultimately, I transferred to the Faculty of the Artwork Institute of Chicago and spent most of my time within the ceramics division.
Was there somebody who actually pushed you towards making that leap?
Throughout my first semester at Minnesota, one professor saved nudging me. I confirmed up with my outdated highschool ceramic instruments and he’d say, “Oh, you’re within the arts program, proper?” He didn’t know me nicely, however the truth that he noticed potential in me made me assume—perhaps that is one thing I might do.
Earlier than you have been in artwork college, was ceramics in your radar as a profession path?
Probably not, at first. I knew I preferred it, however I used to be nervous about what that may appear like. It felt like most artists solid totally different paths, whereas with different jobs there was a transparent monitor. That lack of readability made it onerous to image it as one thing steady.
Within the two years since going full-time with EMRIS, what’s been probably the most rewarding half?
Having extra freedom—selecting how I spend my time, what initiatives to tackle. Even on onerous days, I really feel actually fortunate to have a studio and work that brings me consolation. Earlier than it was a job, it was my escape. Now, I nonetheless get to have that—simply with just a little extra clay and much more spreadsheets.
Photograph by Armando Rafael
What impressed your assortment for All Fired Up?
We pulled from my present assortment and made some enjoyable units. Just like the teeny bowls in numerous colours and clay our bodies, or the spreaders (like small cheese and butter knives). These are issues folks have a tendency to actually love, so it felt like a good time to share them extra broadly.
Do you might have a factor that you just made early on the place you possibly can take a look at it and be like, ‘Oh, that is sort of what I do now’?
It undoubtedly took me some time to land on my fashion. I went by way of that section of pondering, I don’t know if I’m ok to be an artist, and I attempted on quite a lot of totally different kinds that didn’t essentially really feel pure to me. Loads of my early work—particularly in highschool—was everywhere, which I truly assume is an efficient solution to study and check out new strategies. However as soon as I began leaning right into a extra minimal fashion, all the pieces began to make a bit extra sense.
These solutions have been edited for readability.
How are you incorporating ceramics into your own home this summer season?
