Sandbox Ceramics

Sleek lines graze neat, symmetrical forms. Bowls and mugs stack, aligning clean patterns and geometric shapes, bringing the same joy a children’s puzzle would. It is easy to forget that each handmade work of art holds function as well. This playful approach to a timeless craft could be done by none other than Petra Kaiser of Sandbox Ceramics.

WORDS Ali DeFrang

PHOTO Kris LeBoeuf

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Tierra — Could you tell us a little about yourself and your brand?

Petra Kaiser — I'm a second generation potter who works out of my home studio in the little riverside town of St. Helens, OR. I work primarily on the potters wheel throwing functional ceramics that are simple, yet playful. I've recently been experimenting with new clay bodies and non-functional sculptural wall art which has been refreshing and really exciting! I've always been a sucker for straight lines and repetitive graphic patterns, so I strive to make work that plays into that idea while still being simple enough to display in the home without being visually overwhelming.

What initially drew you to ceramics?

PK — My grandmother was a potter who focused on hand sculpted work, so I was very familiar with clay in my childhood, but it wasn't until I enrolled in a beginner ceramics course that I fell in love with throwing pots on the wheel. I love that within a few minutes you can see a lump of clay turn into the beginnings of something functional like a cup or a bowl. Ceramics is also a very process heavy craft which I enjoy a lot. In my studio I flow from throwing, to then trimming, firing, glazing and firing again over the span of a few days to a few weeks. This cyclical process keeps things fresh and interesting because every day has different tasks which is key for me.

What do you hope for your future and the future of your business?

PK — I'm in such a happy place in life right now. I love what I do and am so lucky to have a husband who has supported me through the good times and bad that come with starting and maintaining a small business. We're excited to expand our family (kids AND cats obviously) in the near future and I'm really excited to see what that will bring for us! In terms of the future of my business I just hope for more of the same-- I'm so grateful that I get to do what I love for a living! I'm lucky enough to have some pretty amazing shops who continue to sell my work, but I've recently been making more time to create unique work for my own website which I'd love to do more and more of!

More of Petra’s work HERE