Messy By Mahlia in the Creative Uniform®

This week we catch up with Mahlia, an Australian-born-now-London-based Ceramist and the mind behind @messy.by.mahlia. We chat artistic backgrounds, ceramics and how she's been getting on working with our new Creative Uniform set.

Hey Mahlia, it’s been great to collaborating with you. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself? 

Thanks guys, I’ve been loving the set so far! Originally I am from Australia but I am also half Sri Lankan and was born and raised in Indonesia. This has definitely contributed to my style of ceramics as I've noticed I quite often subconsciously pull inspiration from my cultural background. I started making ceramics as a child in my grandparents backyard, they are both ceramists and sculptors. Over the years I came back to the medium and haven't looked back since. It's now a part of my identity and I can't imagine life without it! 

Anything in particular that drew you to working with ceramics?

I've worked with clay for as long as I can remember so I think it's always been a big part of me. It wasn't until when covid hit that I really became curious about the practice again. I was actually returning from some travels and doing hotel quarantine at the time, I was losing my mind a bit and had the urge to order a big block of clay to my house for when I got out. 

Can you talk us through the process behind making your incense holders?

The incense holders are made with a technique called 'slab building'. Basically I roll out a big piece of clay, smooth all the bubbles out and then cut out my shape. Once it's a leathery hard texture, I shape it into a curved incense holder and wait for it to dry. Once it's bone dry, it goes into its first firing, then I glaze it and fire it one more time and then it's ready! 

Any artists/creators that inspire you?

I'd have to say my grandparents are my biggest ones. The older I get the more my style is merging towards theirs. Their home is full of all of their beautiful unique pieces and I hope one day mine is too. I also really love furniture design at the moment and there is an artist based out of New York, Eny Lee Parker, she is a ceramist/ furniture designer and everything she does I'm obsessed with.  

How have you found working in the Creative Uniform?

Honestly I love it! Working with clay means you're going to get messy, It's the perfect uniform to throw on and immerse yourself in the mess, whilst still being fully functional and cute too haha! 

Plans for the future?

So many plans and so many ideas, but at the same time I'm just taking it slow. I still have so much to learn and experiment on. One thing I'm really looking forward to is continuing exploring bigger vessels and sculptural pieces. 

Any advice you can give to new ceramicists?

My biggest advice is to just start! I never had classes or anything like that. It was just me and clay, slowly figuring it out over time. It's incredible what your hands and mind is capable of and if you just allow yourselves to be curious, practice and learn from your mistakes, then you're doing it! 

All time favourite film/album?

This is sooo hard to answer. I don't really have a favourite album but here's some of my fav songs on rotation at the moment. 

- Bad Girls by Solange  (feels like summer) 

- Shinzo No Tobira by Mariah (for zoning out in the studio) 

- Senora Diana La Vi by Eduardo Mateo, Diane Denoir (for cooking in the kitchen with a glass of wine) 

-  Faux savage by Domenique Dumont (for riding your bike around in the park) 

Thanks Mahlia!

Check out the Creative Uniform below and make sure to follow Mahlia on IG here.