Studio Visit: Irving Place

I discovered Irving Place Studio ceramics several years ago, and knew I had to have them for my stores. And though this Los Angeles studio’s roots date back six decades, Irving Place today is very much rooted in the contemporary. A collaboration between renowned artist Dora De Larios, her daughter Sabrina Judge, and son-in-law Aaron Glasock, the current studio was established in 2012 and produces gorgeous hand thrown ceramics for everyday use at the table. And the special objects they create: that rare combination of all at once incredibly elegant and wonderfully functional.

They were kind enough to open the doors of their studio to us, and I was moved not only by the relationship between mother and daughter, but also by what that relationship has produced. I hope you enjoy this look inside. XXJKE

R+T: Can you share a bit about how Irving Place Studio, as it is today, came to be?

Irving Place Studio is a small family artisanal ceramic business that was started in the summer of 2012. It is a collaboration between my mom, Dora De Larios, my husband Aaron Glascock and I. Initially we wanted to make one small simple, elegant, beautifully crafted wheel thrown bowl. The one simple bowl turned into a whole dinnerware line now in four glazes!

Our name came from one of my mom’s past studios. I grew up in the “old” Irving Place Studio and have strong memories of all the artists that worked there. Ellice Johnston, Cherie Silver, Kaz Matthews, Barbara Pinski, Fern Jane Cook, Lorinda Rowland and Diane Roberts were all artists that worked at Irving Place Studio. They were a huge part of my childhood. When we decided to start the new business it was extremely important to me to connect the new venture with the past.

R+T: Though the studio’s roots date back over a number of decades, its pieces today are decidedly contemporary. What role, if any, does the studio’s past have on its present?

As far as design, the past studio doesn’t influence our work directly. Dora is an internationally acclaimed ceramic artist who is renowned for her decorative techniques. With our dinnerware line we decided to do the opposite of what Dora specializes in.

We wanted to make the shape and glaze of our dinnerware the main design element as opposed to each piece being decorated. That being said, we produce limited editions of Dora’s decorative work and will be making a new line of carved vases and stamped platters that we are really excited about.

R+T: Your hand thrown pieces are all at once elegant and incredibly functional. How do you find that balance?

Thank you! That is what we set out to do. We are always trying to find the right feel. When we have an idea, we make it and live with it before we start producing it. I have favorite bowls and plates that my mom threw over thirty years ago. We still come back to some of those silhouettes for ideas. Aaron and I have a lot of ideas about the shapes, we are always refining.

Dora gives us feedback and advice about how to achieve the best results. Handmade ceramics is very labor intensive. Every piece of our dinnerware line is worked on by hand 10 times. It takes 3-4 weeks to get a piece from the wheel to the high fire. I think it’s wonderful that people are responding to the feeling of our ceramics. They can feel it is made by hand.

R+T: Tell us about your studio space… How did you find it? What drew you to it? And what impact does it have on your work?

We work out of Dora’s studio. Dora used to share the space with other potters who have since retired. It just made sense to keep it under her roof. As far as impacting our work, if we are making a lot of work it gets small really fast!

R+T: A well-designed studio is one that…

Has a lot of light and good energy!

R+T: Tell us about a typical day in the studio…

There is no typical day because of the drawn out nature of producing ceramics. We stagger work depending on how pieces are drying (which can vary depending on the weather) and what needs to be glazed. Everyday is different. Today my mom started the kiln at5:30 AM and while she was firing she carved some beautiful pieces. I mixed glazes then glazed bowls, covered jars and large cylinders and took over the firing. Doug Van Sickle (the bestest production potter in the world) threw some large vases and cylinders. When Aaron is there he chips in where ever needed but lately he has been focusing on making molds for a slab line that we are expanding.

R+T: Top five workspace musts?

1. Disco, Funk, R&B, Soul and Jazz! Music, music, music!!!!

2. Tools and special sponges

3. Carts with wheels

4. Butcher paper

5. Snacks!!!! Lots of different types of healthy snacks and a refrigerator stocked with coconut water, yogurt and salad.