about alyssa ettinger

Alyssa Ettinger threw her first pot at summer camp when she was 14-years-old. She continued working with clay while attending The Putney School, then got her BA in Ceramics (and Creative Writing) at Bennington College.

After graduating, she began a career in magazine publishing, and for nearly two decades wrote, edited, planned and styled shoots, and honed her expertise in home design, new products, décor and lifestyle — Her first book, The eBay Home Makeover, came out in October of 2005.

After 9/11, Alyssa felt something stirring inside her for a change. Between seeking a new direction, and being encouraged by a friend to try her hands at ceramics once more, Alyssa took a pottery class at the studio where this friend, Mieko, studied. That first night found Alyssa sitting at the wheel, throwing bowls nearly as easily as she had back in college. She began spending as many hours at the studio as she could, and soon felt she needed a way to spend all of her time pursuing ceramics. She found a studio space, ordered 50 pounds of porcelain, and within two months was designing dinnerware. Her first line — Mieko bowls — was named after the friend who'd started it all by inviting her for tea.

These days, Alyssa works out of a studio in Brooklyn, and has branched out to include slip-casting and hand-building in her designs. "It's a far different environment than the more corporate world where I once worked," she says. "Being a ceramic artist certainly doesn't make you wealthy, but I've reached a point in my life where being happy and content are far more valuable currency."

contact information

Alyssa Ettinger
Please send your buying and ordering inquiries via e-mail to alyssa@alyssaettinger.com