Miguel Torres-Macias doesn’t have to look far for inspiration. The Los Angeles–based ceramist draws from the great outdoors when crafting his one-of-a-kind pieces. “I am part of a community of artists and activists that are invested in Southern California’s landscape,” he tells Business of Home. “My mission is to make objects that bring me closer to nature.”
Growing up in Southern California, Torres-Macias became a naturalist at an early age. He frequently visited his grandmother, an avid gardener, in Jalisco, Mexico, where he learned how to forage for food in the wild and cultivate a close relationship to the natural environment. “Her influence changed the way I looked at the world,” he says.
A self-taught ceramist, Torres-Macias began experimenting with clay when he was in high school and was instantly hooked. “I would ditch all of my classes to just hang out in the ceramics studio,” he says. After finishing college and working an office job for a few years, he decided to pick up the hobby again. He read dozens of pottery books and watched hours of YouTube videos, and in 2018, he began throwing and sculpting ceramics on the wheel. “Clay as a medium allowed me to play quite a bit with my interest in the natural world,” he says. “Learning about minerals and chemistry was so central to the practice.”
In 2020, he made the transition to full-time artist and launched Miguel Torres Ceramic Studio with a collection of small hand-turned vases inspired by the works of the late Romanian artist Constantin Brancusi. “I wanted to explore the possibility of a career that could incorporate all my interests, including aesthetics, history, science and culture,” he says.
All of Torres-Macias’s ceramics are handcrafted, either thrown on a wheel or sculpted. To add geographic character, he often uses clay made from locally foraged desert soil. “When collecting, I take care to never destabilize any cliffs or disturb plants when I harvest,” he says. “I am an environmental advocate, and it’s a two-way street when it comes to foraging.”
Though form reigns supreme for Torres-Macias, color also plays a pivotal role in his designs. He mixes his own glazes from minerals and ocean water, in hues ranging from creamy white to dusty pink and cerulean blue. “The glazes allow the shape to shine, while introducing another natural element,” he says.
The artist's works are about to make major waves in the interior design industry. Peter Dunham now offers a selection of his bowls, vases, lamps and jewelry trays through Hollywood at Home. “The final product is important, but it’s the process, the relationships and the time to think that really inspires me,” says Torres-Macias.
In addition to ceramic wares, he recently unveiled a line of hand-sculpted metal jewelry. Looking ahead, Torres-Macias hopes to release more metal-based pieces, as well as a line of outdoor-friendly sculptures. “I want to continue to create objects that support daily rituals while highlighting the beauty of nature,” he says.
