At Home With Lauren Johnson | V11.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN CERAMICS?
My grandmother was a teacher and an artist, and clay and acrylic paints were her mediums. My siblings and I would go to her house and create pieces with her, each week completing the next step of the process. I loved her so much and was so proud of all the work she had in galleries and the kind of woman she presented to the world and in private. After she passed, I found myself moving closer to ceramics, and long story short I believe she lives on through my ceramics and the love of art within my family. She was so rad, I just want to share with everyone what she taught me.
WE'RE OBSESSED. WHERE/HOW CAN WE PURCHASE?
Currently while my site is under construction my pieces are available through a beautiful sustainable marketplace called Prynne. If there is something specific you just have to have, please send me an email at lj@johnsonceramics.com and we can chat.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAT.
I have two cats, but the one who was insistent on following us around was my darling boy Onyx. He is a true warrior; he is a 6-year-old slightly overweight American shorthair tuxedo cat, two-time cancer survivor, door opener, and ultimate food eating champion. I have had him since he was three months old, and then when he was two years old I adopted his "brother" Iggy, who is the ultimate scaredy cat by day, and ladies’ man/cuddler by night. Aside from my plants, these are my golden children.
WHAT RECORD COULD YOU LISTEN TO FOREVER?
This is really tough because my music taste changes by the day, I always go back to Joni Mitchell's “Blue” album, or Prince's “Crazy You” album. Honestly anything by Jimi Hendrix or Queen will make me pull the car over and boogie (I only recommend if you can do it safely!)
HIGHLIGHT OF 2020 FOR YOU?
Self-love, deepening friendships, and having time for ceramics.
GIVE US YOUR TWO CENTS ON DECORATING A HOME.
1st cent: PLANTS. I don't mean the ones you see in home magazines; buy the ones you resonate with most and can actually care for.
2nd cent: Buy used/vintage when you can. A little character never hurt anyone. Also, same rules from above apply, the home you want to feel safe and held in should look like your safe place.
Local thrift or vintage stores, Craigslist, OfferUp, LetGo, Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, etc are great places to start.
TELL US A SECRET.
I have a superpower that is called anxiety. Although this is true, the reason it has been a gift is because it is teaching me to be a better person each day, even on my lowest days. I am a firm believer in speaking about mental health, or literally any topic, and feel like my struggle with anxiety has strengthened my ability to look within AND reach out. Something that is helpful for me is to lay down, look at the sky and watch the trees move and breathe.
WHAT DOES PERFECTLY UNDONE MEAN TO YOU?
Doing what resonates with me/my body each day. In the case of clothing and Nation LTD, tossing on a "no fuss" piece that actually makes me feel good is perfectly undone. There is nothing more annoying than adjusting or worrying about your clothes all day, I am drawn to pieces that still look great when in the middle of the day they've come "undone."
