I'm Marianna, and clay found its way into my life through an unexpected path of flavors and family traditions. Growing up in Italy, I watched my mother transform every meal into an occasion—even a simple breakfast deserved to be served on our finest plates. She moved through life with this same dedication to beauty, her elegant spirit evident in everything from the way she dressed to how she arranged flowers in a vase. Her love for jewelry and attention to detail taught me early on that objects could elevate ordinary moments into small celebrations.

This appreciation for the artistry in everyday life followed me into professional kitchens, where I discovered that presentation was as crucial as taste—each plate becoming a canvas for culinary creativity. Perhaps this is why the transition from kitchen to ceramic studio felt so natural. What started as curiosity evolved into a calling, and soon I found myself trading my chef's knife for a potter's wheel, elbow-deep in clay and discovering a new form of creative expression.

Why I Do What I Do

Working with clay brings me an indescribable joy. It's a constant dialogue between my hands and the earth, a dance of creativity and technique. In my Brooklyn studio, I work with both porcelain and stoneware, pushing boundaries of what these materials can become. My chef's background guides my understanding of how people interact with their dining pieces, while my mother's elegant spirit inspires my collection of rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

The journey between tableware and jewelry emerged naturally—the same material that brings strength to a dinner plate can capture delicate details in a ring. My pieces often echo patterns and textures across both collections, creating a harmonious dialogue between the objects that grace your table and the art you wear.

Every piece I create is a celebration of individuality in a world of mass production, carefully crafted through multiple firings and finished with attention to the smallest details. Whether it's serving your morning coffee or accompanying you to your next adventure, these pieces are meant to become part of your daily story.

Why Argilla

Argilla means clay in Italian (from the Latin argīlla and the Greek árghilos). I am drawn to the contrast between clay's primordial simplicity and its high symbolic presence in the myths of human creation. I love how almost every ancient culture believes that their Gods molded people out of clay while also giving people the capability to mold what they need from the very same material.