My Story

My name is Maria Loram, and I am a ceramic artist based in California. Art has been my lifelong companion: from four years of art school back in Russia to studies in 3D graphics since I was ten years old. Despite a detour into linguistics at Moscow State University and a subsequent move to LA, where I built a career in private tutoring, my core fascination with art’s power to explore and understand the world remained dormant yet undiminished.

The turning point came with a divorce, which serendipitously guided me back to art, Eastern philosophies, and meditation practice. In 2022, a pottery wheel from Facebook marked the rebirth of my artistic journey through the medium of ceramics. Diving into classes and workshops led by renowned ceramicists like Tortus and Moondobang, I've embraced the endless possibilities of shape, texture and color.

My Inspiration

The guiding force behind my work is the profound influence of Eastern philosophies and the principles of non-duality, explored through my practices in meditation and yoga. Drawing from Advaita Vedanta and Japanese Zen, my creations embody a minimalist, earthy wabi-sabi aesthetic, celebrating the beauty of imperfection and simplicity.

Beyond philosophy, my fascination with the cosmos and the universe deeply inspires my functional and artistic pieces. Each work aims to evoke feelings of peace, wonder, and the captivating awe of the universe's mysteries and the human experience.

My Process

The creation of my ceramic pieces is a slow and meticulous process that can span from two weeks to two months. This journey begins with searching for the perfect clay, followed by numerous experiments with shapes, and numerous attempts at finding a perfect glaze.

Each piece undergoes a gradual drying process and multiple firings which ensures that the final product is a work of art and a testament to craftsmanship.

My CV

  • 2024 VAMS Finalists, V Gallery, Pasadena, CA

    2024 Alta Arts Open Studios, Altadena, CA

    2024 The Air Between, V Gallery, Pasadena, CA

    2024 Where Do We Go From Here, V Gallery, Pasadena, CA

    2024 Looking Above and Below, Boone Family Art Gallery, Pasadena, CA

    2023 September Paris Design Week, 1000 Vases, Paris, France

    2023 Space Between, Arc Gallery Online, San Francisco, CA

    2023 The Future Stars, The Holy Art Gallery, London, UK

    2023 Rêve D’été, The Artemis Studio, Topanga, CA

    2023 Abstract, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

    2023 Contemporary Aesthetics Exhibit, Aedra Fine Arts, Online

    2023 Annual Student Exhibition, Boone Family Art Gallery, Pasadena, CA

  • 2023 1000 Vases Catalogue, Paris Design Week, Paris, France

    2023 Space Between Catalogue, The Project Gallery of Arc, San Francisco, CA

    2023 Blank Slate, Inscape Magazine

  • 2024 Philip G. Cornelius Award of Excellence in Ceramics

    2024 Ruth Estes Bissiri Memorial Scholarship

    2024 Excellence in Ceramics Scholarship

    2024 Pasadena City College NCECA Field Trip Funding

    2023 Teravarna 9th International Abstract Art Competition, Honorable Mention Award

    2023 Gallery 4%, Honorable Mention Award, New York, NY

  • 2024 Cub Creek Foundation, VA 1.5 months

    2023 GerArtFit Virtual Residency, 3 months

  • 2024 Advancing Glazes, CMW, Virtual

    2023 Understanding Glazes, CMW Virtual

    2022-present Pasadena City College, A.A. in Studio Arts with a focus on Ceramics

    2012-2016 Lomonosov Moscow State University, B.A. in Philology, Valedictorian, Summa Cum Laude