We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriela Flores Morales a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriela , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My journey with ceramics began in 2015 when a professor I deeply admired organized a trip to San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca. There, I was captivated by the cultural significance of this natural material, as well as the enduring craftsmanship that filled the space. Witnessing entire families and communities pass down knowledge from one generation to the next—forms of artistry that modernization and industrialization had failed to erase—left me in awe.

I treasured this experience and carried it with me for years, until an opportunity to exhibit my work arose. When that moment came, I knew exactly which medium to choose.

For me, ceramics is a way to preserve culture, time, and touch. There is something magical about how fire transforms malleable clay into a permanent form—freezing a moment, a gesture, in an unyielding shape.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a product designer and artist working with ceramics. I have always been fascinated by objects—especially those we form emotional connections with. Clay has been the medium that allows me to explore the creation of such objects: pieces that not only freeze touch in time but also invite it, longing to be held and imprinted upon.

Through ceramics, I experiment with the material’s relationship to other substances, as well as its dynamic interplay with the people who interact with it.

Recently, what fills me with pride is my capacity to adapt, transform, and create. A little over three years ago, I moved far from my hometown and began working with ceramics again—from scratch. Sourcing materials, securing a workspace, and finding a community presented challenges, yet this journey has profoundly shaped both my craft and my bond with this wondrous material. It has been a process of relearning: perpetual, transformative, and still unfolding, guiding my art in ways I continue to discover.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Watching a piece come to life, I believe only fellow creatives can truly understand the sheer time and effort poured into each work—from conception to completion—even as ideas shift and evolve along the way.

From the first sketch to the final form, every detail is explored: colors, shapes, and textures are tested, reworked, and refined. Clay, in its infinite malleability, is sensitive to everything—weather, firing temperatures, glazes, even chance. These variables can transform a piece unpredictably, rendering each one distinct. Yet when working repetitively or at scale, this unpredictability demands careful attention.

For me, the greatest reward lies in experimentation—the pursuit of a vision. That moment when a process crystallizes and the intended result emerges? Pure magic.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The importance of forming a community—of being open to both helping and receiving help—cannot be overstated.

I’ve always been someone who cherishes objects and their significance in our material world. Yet it wasn’t until I uprooted my life to a new country that I truly understood how vital it is to find a community—both creatives and non-creatives alike—to share with. When you’re far from home and your native culture, discovering a space where you belong, a network to rely on, becomes more than just comforting: it can be lifesaving, even projectsaving.

This community has become my most valuable resource. Establishing yourself in a new country or city is never easy, but the right circle helps with everything—from practical challenges like sourcing materials to emotional ones like weathering difficult days.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://prieta.mx
• Instagram: prieta.mx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielafloresmorales