During the pandemic, I had a simple desire to step away from screens and use my hands. To do something tactile. And what’s more offline than playing in the mud?

Working with clay allowed me to slow down, be more present, and fully engage my hands and attention. It became a way to disconnect from constant digital noise and reconnect with myself through making.

I work primarily on the wheel, using clay as a medium for both function and artistic expression. There’s a rhythm to throwing that I return to again and again: wedging, centering, shaping, refining. It’s a process that feels both grounding and expressive, and it's allowed me to exercise a degree of patience only other potters could begin to understand.

I create small-batch ceramic objects designed for everyday use—bowls for unhurried mornings of oats, mugs that sit comfortably in your hands, espresso cups with thumb grooves that fit its natural curve and shape. I’m drawn to familiar forms and surfaces that invite touch: refined curves, balanced weight, soft texture, with subtle variation that reveals the presence of an imperfect, human maker. My work values restraint through clean lines, organic texture, and thoughtful finishing. Each piece is thrown, trimmed, glazed, and finished by me, one at a time.

I created Shekla Studios in 2025, based in my hometown of Toronto, Ontario. The name Shekla is also a nod to my Ethiopian heritage, a connection that feels especially present in my relationship to coffee vessels, inspired by the traditional jebena.

In Ethiopian culture, the jebena is more than a functional object—it represents norms of gathering, ceremony, and community. It’s not unusual for neighbours to drop by unannounced to sit and share three cups of coffee, often over popcorn and conversation (read: gossip). These vessels are in constant rotation, and this cultural practice informed my belief that handmade ceramics should be lived with, stacked, washed, used daily, and—most importantly—shared.

By creating in small batches, I can leave room for exploration. No two pieces are exactly the same, no two collections will be exactly alike, and that individuality is something that I love and appreciate about functional, handmade ceramics.

Thank you for being here, and for supporting work made locally, slowly, thoughtfully, and by hand.

— Gabrielle

Shekla Studios launches Spring 2026.