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

Hi Ariella, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Being an artist — dwelling in my imagination, planning, working with my hands — is so fulfilling that taking risks are merely stepping stones to achieving the life that I want to live. In my studio, I try to follow what feels alive, rather than worrying about how it will be received. If I make something just to please others, it loses its soul. So I take the risk of making something honest and personal, and trust the right people will feel it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am drawn to weaving together binaries and playing with opposites. Elegance and quirkiness, traditional with the unexpected, feeling content while also being challenged. With my Nocturne lamp, there might be nostalgia in the pull chain seen on countless lamps and elegance with the gold and silver finishes, but there is no lampshade and there are these four quirky legs with bursts of multicolor flowers throughout. There is a quiet elegance and nostalgia that lives right alongside the quirkiness and the unconventional. That interplay of comfort and surprise is what I love most, not just in my work, but in life.

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.
I love a good picnic at Echo Park Lake. Even riding the swans at the lake is worth it with a few friends. There is a Oaxacan quesadilla stand nearby too that is really good. Or I often hang at the lake and then on the way home, drive by Playita Mariscos for a quick taco outside. Hiking any part of the Mishe Mokwa Trail is gorgeous. Also, a day at Malibu Creek State Park, hiking to the rock pool and stopping at various stream spots along the way. Camping there for the night is great or doing a daytime BBQ. Going to Hollywood Bowl in the summer when the LA Phil is there and bringing a picnic with some wine beforehand. I love the Lodge Room in Highland Park. Their food is really good and it is a fun ambiance if you sit at the bar. Love Found Oyster, Queen St, Sqirl for brunch, Crawfords for fun, Ferrazzani’s for amazing sandwiches, too many incredible restaurants to name!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Becoming an artist started almost out of necessity. My husband, a musician and researcher, would vanish into his studio for hours on end, and I needed something to keep me sane. I stumbled upon clay and I was completely hooked. He’s also inspired me how to think and see like an artist, to move through the world without a box around me, to stop caring what others think, and to relax into my soul. I’m also so grateful to all of my family and friends who have cheered me on, bought my work, and brought me into projects that have shaped my path.

Website: https://ariellakirschbaum.com

Instagram: @ariellakirschbaumceramics

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