The word maven comes from the Yiddish meyvn, meaning "one who understands." Someone who thrives on information and ideas to the point where you sometimes feel overwhelmed because you have so many ideas competing for space in your head.

MAVEN CERAMICS is the clay studio practice of Sarah Graves. Located in Portland, Oregon.

This body of work was initially developed during the beginning of the pandemic, and focused on organic, minimal shapes and vessels inspired by nature and escaping city life. It continues to be explored in Sarah’s Portland studio where it evolves to take reference from new infuences, from the human form to brutalist city architecture. Many of the glazes and clay bodies used are inspired by landscape details in the Pacific Northwest. Working predominately with stoneware clay bodies using wheel thowing techniques, you will see variation in the process, such as hand building, and material, such as porcelain, throughout these collections.

Sarah Graves is a homebody and founder of MAVEN CERAMICS.

She can be reached at sarahvgraves@gmail.com and would love to hear from you.