🎧 2026 Emerging Artist: Olivia Propeck, North Hollywood, California Ceramics Monthly

The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.

Ceramics Monthly: What techniques do you use to make your work, and why?

Olivia Propeck: The majority of my time making this body of work is spent surfacing. Using the reference photos I take from home interviews, I use a combination of underglaze and glaze to lay the foundational composition. During this stage, I establish key pieces of furniture and important objects such as shelves of knick-knacks, heirloom chairs, plants that were passed down by generations, and so on. After the cone-6 firing, I sequentially fire to lower temperatures, which include a china paint and a luster firing. The china paint and luster are wonderful mediums that allow me to enhance small details, adding depth and specificity to the objects, while also adding a variety of textures. I find this entire surfacing process to be arduous but incredibly rewarding. Taking the extra moments to hone in on the small details helps make each piece unique to the homes they are inspired by, and the fine details often inspire a curiosity as to what makes each piece distinctly precious. 

CM: What role do you think makers play within today’s culture? How do you think you contribute?

OP: Being a maker in today’s society requires a lot of determination. In such a complicated and horrific period of political unrest, it is crucial to make work. Art is at the center of culture itself, and what we choose to make is vital to the survival of what makes us genuine and beautiful. Ceramic art, in particular, is inherently special for its endurance against time and is often an incredibly valuable resource that informs us of the past. With this in mind, my foundational motivation to make work is to represent an honest and joyful depiction of queer culture from this time in our world. My pieces will far outlive my own life, and I want these works to pass on the stories of the intimate, quiet, and optimistic moments that simultaneously exist amongst the chaos. 

Learn more at www.oliviapropeckceramics.shop or follow on Instagram @livpropeckceramics.

May 2026: Table of Contents

Must-Reads from Ceramics Monthly

• 🎧 The Ceramic Bell Jar
• 🎧 Q&A with Misty Gamble
• 🎧 Beacon