A Ceramics Career Can Blossom in London

Image Courtesy of Elisheva Goldberg

By KENDALL KRANTZ December 22, 2024

“London is the best city ever for ceramics,” explains ceramicist Elisheva Goldberg, who left the United States to establish a now-flourishing career in fine art pottery in London. After completing her MA in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art, Goldberg found herself immersed in a vibrant and supportive ceramics community. “Around the Western world, ceramics is not always thought of as equal to the rest of fine art since it also overlaps very dramatically with what people know as ‘craft.’ England’s history with ceramics and the value they place in it collapses this divide.”

“It was only after moving to England that I built a social network made up of potters,” she reflects. “Here, it’s not a niche thing to do.”

Goldberg’s journey mirrors a slow but steady increase in interest towards ceramics within the fine art world. With events like the Crafts Council’s Collect Fair celebrating its 20th year, the European Fine Art Fair spotlighting ceramics, and the recent debut of Ceramic Brussels, the medium’s prominence has surged. Britain remains at the heart of this resurgence, home to luminaries like Lucie Rie, Bernard Leach, and Matthew Chambers.

For Goldberg, London’s unparalleled accessibility to ceramic art, the Victoria & Albert Museum’s extensive collection, and an abundance of local talent were key factors in her decision to relocate. “I am very lucky that some of my favorite ceramicists in the world are now my friends,” she reflects.

Elisheva Headshot

Goldberg began her career in Vermont, working at studios and teaching at Shelburn Craft School in Burlington. By 18, she was already selling her work online and at local fairs. After years of honing her craft, she pursued a master’s degree at the globally renowned Royal College of Art, ranked as the #1 art school by QS World University Rankings for the past decade.

At the RCA, Goldberg’s work underwent a profound transformation. “RCA dramatically changed my work because of the emphasis they put on critiques,” she says. She explored innovative techniques like bisque firing in the British countryside and developed a signature technique that reflects her deepening understanding of ceramics as both a physical and spiritual practice.

“On a physical and technical level, my designs have completely transformed,” she notes. “I look at my old ceramics and see them in a totally different way, because I know more and feel a lot less limited in my style.”

While Goldberg’s technical skills flourished, London itself became a wellspring of inspiration. “On one of my first visits to England, I went to Kew Gardens. That huge, amazing variety of beautifully designed floriography still blows my mind,” she recalls. From the curated natural beauty of British gardens to the historic floral still-lifes housed in institutions like the Tate, the Dulwich Picture Gallery, and the V&A, Goldberg found endless sources of creative fuel.

“British gardens are perfectly curated museums of flowers,” she says. “When I think of walking through a garden, I think of it as an opportunity for the non-logistical parts of life—mindfulness and holiness. They provide a place for the human touch of thoughtfulness to combine with the god-given beauty of flowers and plants. To me, gardens are holy.”

Our Tulipière. Started 2023, finished 2024. Courtesy of Elisheva Goldberg

Among her favorites is RHS Wisley, a haven for reflection and inspiration. These gardens are more than just aesthetic marvels; they are a bridge between the spiritual and the tangible, echoing themes central to Goldberg’s artistic exploration.

“Going and writing a thesis in my ceramics caused a level of reflection I hadn’t had the chance to ever do,” she shares. “It made me think about the truth behind why I’ve chosen to spend my life making things out of clay, and what it means for my role on Earth to be a ceramicist.”

Goldberg’s work leans heavily into Jewish mysticism, intertwining her faith with her craft. Through vases and tulipières, Goldberg seeks to evoke the sense of holiness she finds in nature. “Getting to make these personalized gardens provides an access point into holiness by emphasizing our interaction with beautiful nature,” she explains. Her designs aim to replicate the meditative experience of walking through a garden—a curated journey where human ingenuity meets divine creation.

When Goldberg first moved to London, her creations were small, mirroring her uncertainty about the permanence of her new life. “I keep making vases to have an excuse to buy flowers,” she admits. “I wouldn’t call myself addicted to buying flowers, but it’s one of my favorite things to do.”

Today, her work has grown both in scale and significance. “Physically speaking, my work has gotten a lot bigger, and it’s not going anywhere. It’s a signal I’m not going to move.”

London’s thriving ceramics scene, rich cultural history, and deep appreciation for the medium have provided Goldberg with a fertile environment to thrive. As her work continues to expand, so does her connection to the city. For Goldberg, and countless others, London is more than a hub for her craft; it is a place where tradition, spirituality, and creativity converge to form a profound and lasting home. WM