Bloom, 2023

Ceramics came into my life at a time when I really needed it. It gave me mindfulness and gratitude where I couldn’t always find it This piece is called Bloom because as with a vase of fresh cut flowers that bring joy into your home, the process of handcrafting this vase brought me happiness. It represents a journey of “blooming” after languishing and seeing the beauty in every day.

Michelle Samaras is Petal and Clay.

Michelle is an Australian artist based in Newcastle, New South Wales. She has a Bachelor of Environmental Science and has grown up with a love of nature.

“I started working with clay as a creative outlet. I’d been studying and raising two beautiful boys and when I graduated, I realised that I needed something that I could have as my own. Ceramics helped me create that balance that I’d been craving and integrate my passion for sustainability through art that can last a lifetime.”