Meet Alex Beck | Ceramic Artist & Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Beck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think it was always meant to happen? Growing up art was my favorite class and I took every art class that I could. In high school I was fortunate enough to have ceramics as an art option and ended up taking 3 classes along with making AP Art Studio ceramics focused. Even when I transitioned to college, although I ultimatley didn’t pursue ceramics as a major, I was looking for creative options, first taking architecture for a semester and eventually settling with marketing because it allowed me to continue to creatively think and solve problems. At the end of the pandemic I made the dive into ceramics full time and I haven’t looked back.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Alex Beck Ceramics (ABC) is handmade ceramics with a touch of texture and color to make every pot one of a kind. Even though I have developed certain styles of planters, vases, and tableware, each one is slightly different and unique because every step is done by myself. Getting to this point has been a gradual journey, I worked in marketing and social media for most of my 20’s and ceramics was my main hobby. Eventually I started selling my work on Etsy while still working my full time job. When the pandemic came I reassessed what I wanted to do, I always had the thought that I would eventually branch out and do my own thing, and to an extent I was doing that with marketing and socail media as a freelancer, but I wasn’t enjoying it. So instead of going through the tedious and draining interview process once again, I started building my own website, started working part time at a local ceramics studio, made a leap of faith and moved to Brick & Mortar when it first opened and started working on getting my name out there. The change to working as a full time ceramicist hasn’t been easy, I’d argue I work even more now, but I don’t know if I could ever go back. There is struggle, I’ve done several events where I’ve barely made back the booth fee. But along the way people’s positive feedback has kept me going as I continue to build strong roots for my future.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
SF is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to. Whenever somebody visits I like to break the city into different days/sections. One of the days we explore Chinatown/North Beach (Little Italy). Some places we can’t miss include City Lights, Vesuvio, perhaps we get a snack at Good Mong or some egg tarts from Golden Gate Bakery (if it’s open), a new stop I’ve recently discoverrd is the fortune cookie museum. Depending on the time of day, maybe we stop at Li Po for a diabolical mai tai, and in this part of the city you get to see the Transamerica Pyramid, Lombard Street, and Ina Coolbrith is one of the better views of downtown SF (maybe start there and work your way down the hill).

Another day is Haight Street/Golden Gate Park/the Avenues. I would highly recommend stopping in to all of the random strores on Haight Street and if you love vintage there are so many options. Golden Gate Park is incredibly beautiful and some places I’d recommend is the Conservatory of Flowers, De Young lookout, Stow Lake, and the bison paddock. If you make the trip all the way through the park the views at Lands End especially at sunset can be breathtaking. Along the way if you need to exit the park into the Richmond or Sunset there are incredible food options. Just don’t take the massive bike carts through the park, they may weigh 500 pounds and returning them back to Haight St is a nightmare

The final day I would recommend is going through the Mission. There’s several mural alleys and art all over the neighborhood. Not to mention some of the best burritos around, you can’t go wrong with El Farolito or La Taqueria (rice v no rice). Valencia St has a bunch of great shopping and if you’re in the mood for ice cream Garden Creamery may be my favorite. Eventually end up at Dolores Park or El Techo for some great views of downtown.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lindsay Langsdale owns & operates Brick & Mortar studios, the place I consider as the HQ of Alex Beck Ceramics. She opened the studio as a way to help people launch their creative ceramics business. Linnan Ye who nominated me also works out of the studio. Without this place and also without her indispensible advice and guidance I don’t know if I would have made it this far.

Website: https://alexbeckceramics.com/shop-now/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbeckceramics/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexbeckceramics

Image Credits
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