Meet Soraya H. Yousefi | Ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Soraya H. Yousefi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Soraya H., we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think risk is imperative for over-thinkers like myself. My entire business and self-growth has been built on taking risks. I spent my entire life second-guessing every aspect of my existence and every decision I wanted to make, and would often talk myself out of taking action, until one day I finally stopped. I graduated from university and was laid off from my job in the summer of 2020 and instead of looking for work, I took a risk and spent some time delving into pottery. I signed up for a 4-week wheel-throwing class alone (although my social anxiety was internally screaming) and consequently signed up for a monthly membership at the studio. After a year, I left the studio, purchased my own pottery wheel and supplies and rented a local ceramicist’s kiln. A year after that, I made a huge investment and purchased a kiln of my own. I ultimately got to the place where I am today, leasing my own little pottery studio. Each one of these steps involved huge risk-taking and I was terrified of failure along the entire way, but I knew that if I didn’t try then failure was guaranteed. In the end, my risk-taking paid off and I am eternally grateful for whatever it was inside of me that had the bravery to stop thinking and just *act.*

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My specialty is clowns. I make ceramic clown dinnerware.
I love when people tell me they start their day with coffee in their clown mug or end their day eating dinner in their clown bowl. I want it to feel like they have a little companion joining them and making the simple everyday routine of eating and drinking feel more intentional and special.

I’m very proud of where I’m at today. Art was my passion but I never in a million years would’ve imagined that my silly hobby would one day turn into my full-time job and that I’d have my own little studio and my own little business. I feel very lucky every single day.

I often downplay my journey but in truth, it was very hard. I put a lot of time and money into my business and worked 14-hours days every single day for a year straight because I said yes to every opportunity that presented itself because I was scared of losing it all. I still struggle with work/life balance and that’s a challenge I work to overcome everyday. I’m learning how to appreciate what I have now instead of worrying where I’ll be in the future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town for a week, I’d take them to all my favorite neighborhoods in LA.

We’d spend time in Los Feliz and go to Skylight Books, specifically the Annex and pick out some zines from local artists. We’d get grilled cheeses and milkshakes at Fred 62 and walk a couple blocks over to Soap Plant / WACKO and look at the art in La Luz de Jesus Gallery. We’d end the day watching a movie at Los Feliz Theatre.

We’d visit Echo Park and get a deep-dish pizza at MASA or Pad Thai at Sticky Rice and people watch at the lake as we guess what people walking by do for a living.

We’d spend a day in Highland Park. I’d take them to a puppet show at Bob Baker Marionette Theater and we’d walk down York and stop by The Pop-Hop, Shorthand and Be Nice Have Fun before ending the day with Dan Dan Noodles at Joy.

We’d spend time in the San Fernando Valley (my hometown!) and get some records at Midnight Hour and pick out clown figurines at Crybaby’s Rodeo. We’d get matcha at House Roots or an Einspanner latte at RE: COFFEE and get vegan nachos at El Cocinero.

We’d visit my studio in Downtown Los Angeles and get a banana cream matcha at Okayama Kobo or a coffee at Memory Look and get dinner and drinks in the Arts District.

If there’s still time, I’d take them to some of my other favorite spots: Tatsu Ramen, Cafecito Organico, Brain Dead Studios, Vidiots, Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, The Huntington Library, The Short Stop, Stories Books & Cafe, Remainders Creative Reuse, UCB Franklin, Cosmic Vinyl, Heavy Manners Library, Yup Dduk LA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is dedicated to my dad, Farrokh Yousefi. My dad was a business owner and I felt inspired by watching him. Growing up, I had a firsthand view of the ups and downs that came with being a business owner and I learned a lot from him and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

My dad has been very supportive of my business. He installed the electrical outlet for my first kiln in our backyard and more recently took on all the heavy work of moving me into my own studio. I wouldn’t be where I’m at, or who I am, without him.

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