Lauren Ytterbom + Anna Núñez | Ceramics Collaboration
On April 27th, Lauren Ytterbom and I will be launching a limited collection of ceramics that I could not be more excited to share about! It’s a collaboration which has allowed my drawings and paintings to now live on the surfaces of Lauren’s pieces.
In celebration of our collection - and the launch event that will be held at Yield Work Shop on the 27th in St. Augustine, FL - I wanted to offer some insight on our project by documenting and sharing about the plans and creative processes that we worked through in order to bring this limited collection of Lauren Ytterbom x Anna Núñez Ceramics to life!
Flyer below - we would be so happy to see you there!
Backstory and Process:
Near the end of 2018, I got an email from Lauren Ytterbom - who’s name and work I knew and admired - with the idea to participate in some kind of collaboration. I jumped at the opportunity and offered up examples of my work in fine art.
To quote Lauren directly, “I think we were both a little unsure of what exactly would unfold- but we were both curious and eager to explore the process” (the process of combining her work in ceramics with my abstract paintings and drawings).
A look at Lauren Ytterbom’s studio
In the months to follow, we brainstormed back and forth, working through visions and ideas for the ways that our art could compliment one another.
It was such a fluid process of communication, with emails full of exclamation points and anticipation for what we hoped to make together. I’m so thankful for the glimpse that it gave me into the power of collaboration in the arts community.
The sketchbook that I filled in preparation for my visit to Lauren’s studio.
Leading up to the weekend that I would spend with Lauren in her studio (about 5 hours away from my home), I took a creative retreat to Jacksonville, FL with Jesús, and spent much of my time there imagining the sort of drawings that could live on the surfaces of Lauren’s work, while Lauren designed and crafted our vessels.
Created for Lauren and my collaboration • From left to right:
Jax House / 8.5” x 11” / pen, graphite and chalk pastel on paper
Bottom of The Stairs / 8.5” x 11” / pen, graphite and chalk pastel on paper
Place Off Park / 8.5” x 11” / marker, graphite and chalk pastel on paper
Can You Hear That / 8.5” x 11” / pen, graphite and chalk pastel on paper / Created for Lauren and my collaboration
In the meantime, we settled on a group of functional ware to make up the collection: plates, tumblers, bowls and mugs. All of which are food safe and ready to welcome home.
We even made plans for a batch of tumblers to double as candles (!!!!) - with three unique scents that were made and hand poured right in St. Augustine, FL by Yield Design Co.
I’m so thankful that we were able to have Yield as a part of this collaboration - not only with the inclusion of their candles, but also as the hosts of our collection in real life. On the evening of April 27th, we’ll be celebrating our official launch with an event at Yield Work Shop in St. Augustine from 6-9 pm!
The experience of working alongside Lauren was an absolute honor. I’m super grateful that I recieved the opportunity to become friends through this process, learn from Lauren, and walk forward with new perspectives and refreshed inspiration!
First day of working together: getting started and understanding the under-glazes
Another perspective of Lauren’s stunning studio
Day two of painting the collection. Lauren had the idea to arrange a small group of plates in a way that their linear marks could match up like puzzles!
I’m a big fan of the way all the plates came out - those sweet circular canvases
Lauren worked with me in the studio through the whole weekend that I visited. I loved learning from her and sharing stories. I hope that so many new, beautiful, meaningful conversations will be held over our pieces in new homes.
Waiting to be fired!
While I was up in St. Augustine, Lauren was able to fire one batch of pieces over the weekend so that we could check out some of the finished work together before I had to head home.
We knew this process would lead to some potential surprises in the finished products - as firing ceramics is often one big well-calculated experiment.
Thankfully, our expectations of how these would end up after firing was far exceeded!
Lauren added the finishing mark to the pieces - a stamp with both of our names that I designed!
At the end of the weekend, I took a handful of pieces back to St. Pete with me to style and photograph them.
And a group of tumblers made their way to Yield Work Shop to become candles!!! Ah!
As this small group of pieces made their way to my kitchen table, I became really thankful for the chance to sit with each of them on a more individual basis. Every cup, bowl, plate has their own story to tell when separated from the group. Subtle whispers overlapping with loud marks - I love the way these ceramics speak to me in their representation of community. It took two different minds, perspectives and contributions of ideas in order to bring them to life in this way - and I think that’s pretty powerful to consider.
Thank you so much for following along with the process that led to the creation of Lauren and my collection! We hope to see you on the 27th!
If you have any further questions about the pieces, what you read or saw in this post, or our upcoming event - please leave them in the comments section below! I’ll happy get back to you there.
Here’s to community, and more collaborations to come!
Cheers!
