We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Josie Cross a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Josie, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Success is deeply tied to embracing risk, staying curious, and constantly evolving, and my own journey as an artist reflects that. By taking risks, learning new skills, and exploring unexpected combinations, I’ve been able to create some of my most rewarding work. For instance, learning how to wire lamps and how to knit were both new challenges that pushed me outside my comfort zone, but combining those mediums led to one of my favorite pieces to date — my lamp design. This experience reinforced the importance of experimenting without fear, trusting the process, and embracing change. Collaboration has also been key to my growth; working with others has allowed me to expand my ideas, improve my techniques, and draw inspiration from different perspectives. Success, I’ve found, thrives at the intersection of curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to push creative boundaries.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m Josie Cross, a ceramic artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York, and the founder of Josie Ceramics. My journey into ceramics started pretty naturally — I first started making pieces in high school and selling them to friends’ parents. What began as a creative hobby slowly turned into something bigger, and after college, I decided to pursue it full-time. Over the years, my work has shifted from smaller functional pieces to larger sculptural designs and even lighting.
Recently, I launched a new project where I’ve been exploring lamp designs that combine my ceramic work with knitted mohair shades — something I started experimenting with after learning how to wire lamps and knit. It’s been one of my favorite projects so far because it’s felt like such an organic blend of skills I’ve picked up along the way.
Alongside creating, I also love teaching. I host ceramic workshops in my Brooklyn studio and in East Hampton, where I guide people through making everything from mugs and incense holders to sculptural pieces inspired by live models. Teaching feels like a natural extension of my work — it’s a great way to connect with people and share the creative process.
I try to keep things pretty authentic on my Instagram — sharing my process, the trial and error that comes with ceramics, and the moments that feel exciting (or frustrating). What matters most to me is staying true to my style and continuing to learn, collaborate, and experiment. Whether I’m working on new designs, teaching a class, or just figuring things out as I go, my focus is always on creating pieces that feel thoughtful, personal, and grounded in my love for handmade art.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I unexpectedly had to find a new studio space on short notice, it felt overwhelming at first. My previous studio had become such an integral part of my workflow, and the thought of uprooting everything — my kiln, shelves, tools, and materials — felt daunting. On top of that, I had upcoming deadlines for orders, scheduled classes to teach, and a business to keep running. But I knew I didn’t have time to dwell on the stress — I just had to push forward.
I found a new space quickly, but it was far from ready to function as a ceramic studio. The floors needed cleaning, the layout had to be reworked to fit my kiln safely, and I had to create dedicated areas for glazing, sculpting, and hosting classes. I spent long days (and a few late nights) mapping out the space, troubleshooting electrical issues for the kiln, and figuring out how to make everything flow efficiently. There were moments when it felt overwhelming — moving heavy equipment, reorganizing materials, and trying to maintain momentum with my creative projects all at once.
Despite the challenge, I stayed focused on creating a space that felt both functional and inspiring — a place where I could not only produce my work but also welcome others in for workshops and classes. Looking back, the experience taught me a lot about adaptability and trusting myself to figure things out. Now, that studio has become a space I’m really proud of — a hub for both my creative process and the community I’ve built through teaching and collaborating. It’s a reminder that even when things don’t go as planned, there’s always an opportunity to build something even stronger.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Building new clientele has really been about staying authentic, creative, and connected. Hosting workshops and classes in my Brooklyn studio has been a great way to introduce people to my work while creating memorable experiences that build lasting relationships. I’m also excited to expand that experience to East Hampton this summer, where I’ll be teaching classes at Brisas. Pop-up events have been especially meaningful — not just for selling my work, but for connecting with people face-to-face. Doing pop-ups at places like Michael Mitchell Interiors, Reid’s Fine Foods, A’mano Birmingham, and Cindy Ensor Designs has allowed me to meet clients in person, hear their thoughts, and see their reactions firsthand, which has been incredibly rewarding. I really believe in the idea that you only need 1,000 true followers — people who genuinely connect with your work — to build a strong, sustainable business. Those loyal supporters naturally help spread awareness, and I’ve found that fostering those relationships, whether online or in person, has been the most impactful way to grow my audience and keep people engaged with my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.josieceramics.com
- Instagram: josieceramics
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josie-cross-12774216b/
