Meet Manu García | Community Teaching Artist

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

Hi Manu, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I’m a community ceramics teaching artist, and I lead workshops all over Los Angeles. Domingos De Barro is my favorite. The idea came from imagining my abuelita sitting in one of my classes someday. I wanted something that felt welcoming and familiar: bilingual, open to all ages, and held on a Sunday, when families are already together and spending time with each other. Each workshop has a planned project, but I also invite guest artists to join us and share their own techniques, stories, and ways of working with clay. That exchange, between artists, participants, generations, and cultures, is what makes it feel so special.

I pitched the idea to Art Space HP, the only art space and gallery in the area, and I’ve been running the program since March 2025. Since then, more than 300 people have gotten their hands into clay. That feels huge to me. Clay is ancestral, it’s one of the oldest materials humans have worked with. It’s everywhere, it lasts, and it holds memory. In a lot of ways, that’s how I see people too. Sharing clay, teaching it, and making it accessible has become my life’s work. I want these workshops to keep growing, to move into other neighborhoods in LA and eventually into other states, wherever communities could benefit from having a space to create, connect, and slow down together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is rooted in storytelling. I’ve been working with clay for about six years now, and it took a lot of personal changes to understand what I actually wanted to say through my work. In every workshop I teach, I tell my students that clay is going to “outlive them”. Because of that, I think it’s important to stay present, mindful, and intentional when you’re making something that could exist long after you’re gone.

At the beginning of my career, I struggled with the idea of being a potter versus being an artist. I learned all the technical skills, how to make pots, plates, full dinnerware sets, and how to decorate them. But when I took my first handbuilding class, something clicked. Sculpture felt much closer to what I wanted to express. It gave me space to work through thoughts and emotions in a more honest way, so I started focusing on building larger pieces and letting the work hold feeling, not just function.

I still see this as the very beginning of my career. The way I communicate through clay is always changing, and that’s what I love most about it. Clay can be shaped endlessly. It’s forgiving. It teaches you how to let go, mess up, and try again.

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’d build this entire itinerary around the gems of Southeast LA. Start your day at Cruzita’s Deli and Cafe with a Honey Mustard Turkey sandwich or a torta de jamón, plus an agua del día. It’s the perfect place to meet up with friends or sit and journal before heading out for the day.

Hop on your bike and ride over to SELA Bicycle Center, where they’ll happily pump some air into your tires and get your bike feeling brand new, ready for a long ride through the different cities of SELA. After that, swing by the HP Farmers Market to grab some fresh goodies, then stop at Nuestra Linea for a haircut and walk out feeling extra fresh.

For lunch, head to La Perla Market, a neighborhood staple that’s been around for over 50 years. Spend the afternoon checking out the South Gate Museum and their community programming, then make your way to Mole del Rey for dinner, any mole dish is a win.

End the night at Art Space HP, where there’s always something happening, maybe Radical Sewing Club to learn how to mend your clothes, or HP Run Club if you’re training for your next marathon. They also have co-working space if you need to catch up on work or meet friends. Finally, grab a last drink of the night from Confianza Coffee, the Strawbibi Milk is absolutely worth it.

I still have to learn a lot more of SELA but know that this area is full of heart, history, and community, and this is just one way to experience it all in a day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am very thankful to my mom, Jackie and my dad, William for the unconditional love and support they have given me throughout all the different iterations of my life. I came to find my path through clay much later in life and they have been there in every step of this journey. We were brought to this country by my parents to become the best versions of ourselves and I am finally at peace to make them proud by doing what I love every day of my life. Without them, this would not be possible.

Instagram: @manudelmarceramics

Image Credits
Photographer: Zamora Visuals