hi, i'm rita.

i really love clay. i especially love hand-building — it's slower than the wheel, but there's something so satisfying when you finally see your piece come out of the kiln.

i'm canadian, with portuguese roots, now living in denver. i met my lovely husband matthew in patagonia, and that's how i eventually landed myself in colorado.

ceramics has always felt like home as its an art that is woven into portuguese culture, from design to architecture to household items, clay can be found everywhere in portugal. we've all been views of azulejos. since my family visited portugal every summer i grew up bringing home many ceramic pieces home with me.

i also started making pottery as a kid myself — i was shy, and my mom found me a little storefront with classes. it's where i started to come out of my shell and ignited my love for making pottery. however, pottery became inaccessible for a while growing up, but i still kept bringing home pottery i found around the world. matthew even started gifting me pieces he would find when we started dating, clearly understanding my love of clay.

eventually i started taking classes again in 2022, and when i moved to the states in 2023 my love for clay ran wild. i've moved between studios, and these days i build from at a community studio. one day, hopefully i'll have my own studio and kiln.