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 bought it.” Realistically, that not often occurs. However for Emily Christopherson, it type of did.
“I had professors who would joke, ‘You’re within the arts faculty, proper?’” she instructed 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 mentioned. “Nevertheless it didn’t really feel like an actual choice—I had type 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’ll be able to often spot her by the vibe of her sales space—sun-soaked, calm, and punctiliously organized. Her work has the identical vitality: 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—suppose terracotta and stone grey. It’s the type 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 a fan of a pinch bowl—“there’s type of a teeny bowl crew out on the earth,” 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 somewhat “lake” on the seaside.
“It simply felt becoming for somebody nonetheless type of digging round in mud and sand,” she mentioned 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 current journey to Maine. “That one got here from exploring tide swimming pools and how rocks and shells get softened by the water,” she mentioned. “Lots of people mistake my work for stone or concrete at first as a result of I go away the outside unglazed.”
Her All Fired Up assortment pulls from her core lineup: “I picked items individuals at all times gravitate towards,” she mentioned. That features the teeny bowls, spreaders, and stoneware with delicate leather-based touches—each handmade in her Chicago studio (and sure, dishwasher protected).
Emily describes ceramics as a “gradual 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 yr, and I knew I needed to strive it.
What actually saved me there, although, was the neighborhood. I’m a bit extra introverted, so it was good to be round individuals but in addition have one thing to concentrate on. I made a few of my closest buddies by means 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 needed to do. The uncertainty of an artist’s profession path scared me—there’s no apparent subsequent step. However I saved having lecturers 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 previous highschool ceramic instruments and he’d say, “Oh, you’re within the arts program, proper?” He didn’t know me effectively, however the truth that he noticed potential in me made me suppose—perhaps that is one thing I might do.
Earlier than you had been in artwork faculty, 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 which may seem like. It felt like most artists solid completely different paths, whereas with different jobs there was a transparent observe. That lack of readability made it exhausting to image it as one thing secure.
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 tasks to tackle. Even on exhausting 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 somewhat extra clay and much more spreadsheets.
Picture 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 several colours and clay our bodies, or the spreaders (like small cheese and butter knives). These are issues individuals 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 simply made early on the place you possibly can take a look at it and be like, ‘Oh, that is type of what I do now’?
It undoubtedly took me some time to land on my fashion. I went by means of that part of considering, I don’t know if I’m ok to be an artist, and I attempted on a variety of completely different types that didn’t essentially really feel pure to me. Plenty of my early work—particularly in highschool—was far and wide, which I really suppose is an effective solution to study and check out new methods. However as soon as I began leaning right into a extra minimal fashion, every thing began to make a bit extra sense.
These solutions have been edited for readability.
How are you incorporating ceramics into your house this summer season?
