Handmade for the Holidays: Beneath the Surface

Handmade for the Holidays has officially begun! Learn more about participating artists Claire Cohen, Sheetal Mehta, and Christine Raposas and what their work means to them.

The busy holiday season is in full swing, and at Clay Art Center that means the kilns are full to the brim at all times, and many of those pieces will soon go on to become treasured holiday gifts. Even with the constant hustle and bustle, clay still demands patience and reminds us of the rewards of slow, intentional process. Below, three of the artists featured in the Handmade for the Holidays show share about their process, and what their hopes are for their art as it goes out into the world.

Artist Claire Cohen is often drawn to elements of nature when creating her works in porcelain. Claire thinks of her work as functional art, and states that, “Whether in form or glaze, I want my pieces to evoke a sense of freedom and movement that can be enjoyed even when the piece is not in use.” As she creates her work, Claire considers how her work will be used, and that consideration informs her decisions about every aspect of the design. “When I’m making cups, I always think about how they will feel in someone’s hands,” Claire shares, “The handle as well as the surface. My mugs have a matte white that overlaps a pop of glossy color, which gives them a velvety feeling when held in your hand that I hope enhances the experience of savoring a warm drink.” Claire’s contemporary mugs bring both elegance and comfort to the sipping experience.

For Artist Sheetal Mehta, inspiration can be found all around her, whether out in nature or in man-made architecture. “There are forms that I find in both that I want to incorporate into my work,” Sheetal notes, “When I bring that vision into the studio, I like to experiment with the materials, the clay as well as the glazes, to implement what I have in mind.” While nature might find its expression in Sheetal’s color palette or speckled clay peeking through the glaze, architectural features define her windowed vessels, with their sharp geometric cutouts. However beautiful the work, it is Sheetal’s hope that the pieces will be used on a regular basis, and not just stored in cabinets for special occasions: “I love when people interact with my pieces and look closely. Sometimes there are layers built into the design, and every time you use them, you might notice different things.” From candleholder sets that let the light shine through, to sturdy planters that bring a little of nature inside during the frosty winter, Sheetal’s functional work will be the pieces you find yourself turning to again and again.

One of Clay Art Center’s 2025-26 Artists-in-Residence, Christine Raposas is known for her colorful, playful surfaces that she achieves with gloop, lava, and lichen glazes. Christine finds the holidays to be inspiring precisely because of the over-the-top colors: “I like the color scheme of the early 2000s Christmas decor: the rainbow Christmas tree lights, a wide array of mismatched wrapping. I like the chaos of it (and how it has no right to work, but it does anyway) and it pushes me continue evolving my own color palettes.” The colors are Christine’s favorite part of her work, and she hopes that people get lost in the bright hues of her work, which bring layers of complexity to even her smallest pieces. Christine also hopes that her work brings others the same king of joy it brings her and her family. “My family will be receiving lots of ceramics this year,” Christine says, “and I just love the idea of my work reaching other families this year, too, like we’re all connected.”

Handmade for the Holidays, featuring the work of these artists and many others, will be open in-store and online until December 23rd. New work is still arriving!

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Kelsie DaltonDecember 15, 2025Comment