Unique Handmade Ceramics
Artisan pottery inspired by the Sonoran desert.
Unique Handmade Ceramics
Artisan pottery inspired by the Sonoran desert.
About Amala Ceramics
My Inspiration
I am a small-batch potter working in Tucson, Arizona. I aspire to create beautiful and functional ceramic forms that you can use on a daily basis in your home. I am inspired in particular by the wildness and beauty of the Sonoran desert where I live and work. I hope you enjoy my work and it provides a moment of peace and beauty in your day.
Who I Am
My name is Amy LaCross, and I have been working with ceramics on and off for the past ten years. I’m drawn to the peace and focus I find in the process—whether I’m centering and wedging clay or pulling up the walls of a piece. I’m always challenging myself to explore color, form, and functionality, and it is my sincere hope that the mindfulness and love I put into my work are felt by those who use my pieces.
My Work
My work includes a wide range of ceramic pieces, from everyday tableware to decorative objects designed to be both beautiful and useful. I primarily focus on functional ceramics, creating pieces meant to be handled, used, and lived with. I enjoy working with a variety of clay bodies and glazes, allowing me to explore different surfaces, colors, and finishes. I offer a range of styles and palettes so that each piece can find its place in your home or become a thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gift for someone special.
My Process
I prefer to work with a variety of stoneware clays, all of which differ in color and texture.
I marble the clays together into multicolored balls, dividing and recombining until a promising swirl of color emerges - ready for the wheel.
Once at the wheel, I throw each form by hand, setting out to create a cup, a plate, a bowl, with no clear idea of how it will look until it is complete. Each time I pull up the walls, each time it spins, the clays stretch and twist, creating contrast through color and movement. The pattern reveals itself slowly—never all at once—shaped by pressure, speed, and chance. What emerges is a record of th
This way of working isn’t new. It’s called neriage, a centuries-old technique with roots in Japanese ceramics, where differently colored clays are layered, marbled, and cut so the pattern runs all the way through the piece. I love that the color isn’t just on the surface—it’s built into the clay itself. Even though the technique has been around for a long time, every piece still feels fresh, unpre
I’m especially drawn to neriage because it echoes the stone of the Sonoran Desert. The marbled, striated textures in the clay remind me of the cliff faces around my home here, their layers carved by time, sun, and wind. Working this way lets me bring a little of that landscape into each piece—its movement, its depth, its unexpected surprises—all captured in clay and color.
Some Finished Marbled Pieces: Landscapes in Clay
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Chasing Color: My Favourite Glaze Adventures
The Desert Inspires
Just Me, Clay, and a Garage
