About Liz — Artist Bio

Hi, I'm Liz Collins — a ceramic artist based in Washington DC. I live and work between my home studio in DC and my pottery shed in Alexandria, making every piece by hand on the wheel.

How I got here

I grew up the daughter of a professional artist, though my early years were defined more by athletics than art. It wasn't until my last semester of college that I took a ceramics class and quickly fell in love with wheel throwing — the technique, the muscle memory, the flow state.

Since then I've deepened my practice at craft schools including Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Penland School of Craft, and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia — places that pushed my work in new directions and connected me with a wider community of makers.

Why I make

Pottery became — and remains — my creative, physical, and mental health outlet. It's where I make tangible things in contrast to the conceptual work I do professionally. It's where I lose track of time. Where I work through emotions. Where I connect with people outside my bubble.

Nearly ten years into this practice, pottery has been there through every stage of life. My work explores themes of identity and mental health — particularly through the face and the eye, which appear throughout my pieces as a way of examining who we are beneath the surface.

I focus on mugs because I want sculptural art to be part of your everyday routine — not something kept behind glass. A mug is the one object most of us touch before we've said a single word in the morning. That felt like the right place to put something that means something.

Each piece is wheel-thrown and hand-sculpted in my studio. No molds, no shortcuts — just clay, hands, and a lot of intention.

Find me in person

The Dupont Little Flea is a neighborhood market that runs every Sunday at 19th & Q St NW — and you'll find me there on the 4th Sunday of each month. It's the best place to see the full range of work in person, handle the pieces, and find something you won't see anywhere else. Follow @dupontlittleflea for market updates.

I also pop up at hyper-local markets and events around the DC area throughout the year. Follow me at @lizcollinspottery to stay in the loop.

Work with me

I love making pieces that are personal. Whether it's a custom pet portrait at the bottom of a mug, a mystery face mug for someone who appreciates the unexpected, or a commission conversation about something more involved — I'm always happy to talk.

You can reach me at liz@lizcollinspottery.com — I'd love to hear from you.

Shop the Collection