Ayumi Horie

This New York potter and ceramic artist makes functional pieces with animal drawings and other themes. I think her handmade pottery is so appealing-- tactile, textural, an ancient artform, etc. As she says, these are objects that relate strongly to the current interest in "the quirkiness of individual, intuitive decision-making." Her work is indeed beautiful (and sometimes funny) and by making functional pieces, she places her art squarely in the workhorse category-- this is art that appears on everyday objects. In this way, her work is much more in the world than many artists. It's part of your day. You can read more in her own words here (Ceramic Arts Daily) and learn more on her website.