We were lucky to catch up with Joanna Gragnani recently and have shared our conversation below.

Joanna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

About a year and a half ago my third child was born, and about a week later my partner and I became owners of an old pottery studio/gallery.
It was a huge risk, not knowing how life was going to be with another child, and not knowing what it was like to own a commercial business. I knew of the opportunity well in advance so I could prepare and create a business plan, but so much was up in the air and I truly didn’t know what I was getting myself into.
Half way into planning the business, I found out I was pregnant with our third child. We had so many conversations about whether or not we should move forward with the business, knowing we had a baby on the way. It was back and forth for months. The previous owner of the studio wanted to sell it in January and was set on that date, and our son was due on December 25 (although he arrived on December 31). If we didn’t take this special opportunity, we were worried something like this wasn’t going to happen again. The studio was less than 5 minutes from our house, in a beautiful old neighborhood in Richmond. It is a unique space, as it is one of the only businesses in an area with residential houses all around it. The previous owner had been there for over 35 years and I knew she wanted me to have her space. We had no choice but to take the risk and become the new owners. If we didn’t move forward with it, we would have asked ourselves forever, what would it have been like…???
Overall, I’m very happy that we decided to take over the business and create something wonderful in our community. We took what the previous owner had built and expanded the business model, making the clay studio more of a shared space with members and classes. It is a space that focuses on community and I love all of the people that have entered my life because of it. The first year has been quite the challenge, taking care of the new baby while starting the new business. I’ve had a few breakdowns and doubts, but we have been open officially for a year now. The past year was the hardest I can remember, but filled with amazing moments. Talk about a wild rollercoaster of ups and downs!

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 first took ceramics my freshman year in high school, and I have been making off and on since. From community clay classes in Seattle, Washington, to Richmond, Virginia, I continued to develop my skills throughout the years.
I create pinched and coiled ceramic vessels, leaving my finger marks to show signs of the process. When I am making, I imagine organic forms rising up from the earth. I have been drawn towards asymmetrical forms since I first started ceramics. I love the way organic, textured vessels form to your hand when holding them. I am fascinated by flowers and plants and their relationship with ceramic vessels. Often I don’t see a piece as finished until it has flowers or fruit displayed in it. I look at my work as functional sculpture, that which is to be used and also admired. Objects Arsenal is the brand I sell my work under.
In addition to making, I also teach ceramics and own a ceramics studio called 43rd Street Studios in Richmond, Virginia. I love the community aspect of clay, so teaching and being a part of a studio with other clay artists is very important to me.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Throughout the years I have listened to many inspiring podcasts, some specific to clay and other broader business ones, The clay podcasts are Tales of the Red Clay Rambler and The Potter’s Cast. A non-clay podcast that has been very insightful is How I Built This. I love to hear how people have started their businesses and the challenges they have faced, but kept moving forward. Learning from failures and pivoting to make things work are key takeaways.
I also have been listening to the audiobook Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. One thing he mentions is that the customer is always right. I have reminded myself of this many times when managing the clay studio business.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I feel lucky to be able to work with my hands. Creating with clay is calming and therapeutic. There are certainly stressful moments when making ceramics, but the process of building something with my hands is very rewarding. Being able to share this with others in my clay classes is also very rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: Ceramic Studio Business: 43rdstreetstudios.com and Personal Ceramic Work: objectsarsenal.com
• Instagram: @43rdstreetstudios and @objectsarsenal

Image Credits

my personal photos