Julie Ahn
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Interview with Katie Bonadies, July 2026
Julie Ahn is a production potter with a graduate degree in fiber materials studies. She has worked with clay since 2010 and has been a RWS member since July 2024 when she and her family relocated from Brooklyn to Maine.
Ahn fell into ceramics on a whim when she got laid off from her first job post-grad. She took a four-week throwing class and was hooked. Ahn recalls how she could not center the clay on the wheel during her first day of class. There was another student who had the same challenge and quit on the spot. But Ahn says she’s stubborn when she’s trying to figure stuff out. Luckily, she had the time and energy to keep trying. She appreciates clay for its inflexibility and forgiveness, and the repetitiveness is very addictive for Ahn as she tends to be interested in things that are process oriented.
In the beginning, Ahn’s days were filled with play and spontaneity. She made clay sculptures, beads, and pots. Heavy costume beaded jewelry was trending at the time and she had fun making necklaces that she sold to Anthropologie. Working freelance for the chain helped her pay for her first kiln. She continued to learn on her own. It was the ‘YouTube era’ and she watched a lot of videos and took books out from the library to teach herself ceramics. As she was learning her new craft, she decided to start her business, Object and Totem.
Pictured: Ceramic Ghost Mug (left). Ceramic nesting jars (right) by Julie Ahn, Object and Totem.
It was the early days of blogs, which provided Ahn an outlet to showcase her work. When her husband recommended Instagram, she evolved from using online platforms to document her work to using them for commerce. Ahn says it’s embarrassing to look back at those early days electronically enshrined, “When you’re learning a craft and starting a business at the same time, there’s a heavy learning curve and a ton of stupid mistakes. Before it felt like you were in a room with twenty close friends and there was one door. Now social media is this huge warehouse building where no one can hear you unless you have a bull horn, and there are so many windows everyone is looking elsewhere.”
Now that she’s built her business and has wholesale and retails orders to fill, she comes into the studio with a plan. She does a lot of wet work in the beginning of the week and tries to have things drying and trimmed by the weekend. “I only have finite space, so I can’t be superfluous about my materials. I’m also a mom and I have to make sure I make the best use of my time.” Ahn listens to her favorite podcasts–about crime, the supernatural, humor, and NPR programs like Radiolab and Freakenomics–to keep pace with the work. When she runs out of episodes she listens to music. She recently rediscovered her love of 90s hip hop and has gained a new appreciation for Wu-Tang. “The sustained energy helps mark time for me; it keeps more of a rhythmic pace to things.”
Wood fired Moon Jar Vase (left). Terracotta Petal Vase Planter (right) by Julie Ahn, Object and Totem.
Her inspiration is always changing as she and her work evolve. “In the beginning you’re trying things because they look good on paper or they’re fun to make. When you start using your work you notice the changes you need to make.” Now Ahn makes tableware that’s comfortable for daily use and has a simplified, elegant aesthetic. She uses clean lines, simple shapes, and a neutral palate. Longevity of products has become more important to Ahn and it’s something she is aware of as a maker.
Sometimes she still wonders why she’s doing this. “It doesn’t make that much money. There are a lot of cons like safety hazards and time away from family, friends, and social events.” Ahn believes it’s the tactility that’s mentally fulfilling because it helps her mind to focus in a way that makes her feel like she’s not losing brain cells while doing it. “It’s similar to running; you have an objective and you get past it and feel like a different person.” Working with clay gives her clarity that opens up her brain and makes room to think about other things.
Ahn got back into working with fiber a few years ago when some friends asked her to make ornaments for their shop in New York City to help raise money for a nonprofit. She made Asian Pears from fabric that she sewed and stuffed. She had to source a yarn that was the right thickness to sew and make a netting that looks like the netting that holds the Asian Pear. “You always forget, even if you don’t sew or make fiber-based stuff, when you get back into it, it’s refreshing to change things up every once in a while. When you’re done, you’re done. You don’t have to wait for the kiln.”
Ahn has friends who are new to clay and friends who are advanced in their careers as makers. She advises it’s never too late to try new things and to keep the stakes low. “Making is always a skill you will have on hand. It may not be the most profitable pursuit, but if it makes you happy then it’s worth it.” The beauty of clay is that you don’t have to fire it; you can create and stop, appreciate the fun that came from the experience, and reuse the clay for something else.
Contact Julie Ahn through her website, objectandtotem.com.