An Inspired Chat with Erin Hupp of Oakland

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Erin Hupp. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Erin , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
Lately, I’ve been learning a lot from my younger self. My early forties feel like a process of peeling back layers and rediscovering who I am. The thoughts and limitations that held back my 20- or 30-year-old self no longer carry weight. I find myself achieving things I once believed impossible.

To nurture that growth, I challenge myself every few years to take on something new—something that scares me—just to prove I can do something I previously found difficult. A few years ago, for example, I learned to open-water swim after decades of believing I was a terrible swimmer. The exhilaration of that experience still spills over into my art practice.

The ring vases I’m launching this October come directly from that spirit of play—born from trying a technique with my wheel-thrown clay rings I once thought I could never master.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am ceramic artist who collaborates with fine dining restaurants and interior designers to
create unique, hand-thrown tableware and art objects. My work brings chefs’ visions to life and enhances thoughtfully designed spaces. My ceramics are featured in the Bay Area at restaurants like Californios, Nightbird, Sons & Daughters and Enclos.

I also collaborate with local artists. In September I’m launching a fine jewelry collection inspired by my ceramics with Goldstories https://www.goldstoriesjewelry.com/ Each piece is handcrafted in California by Subikksha and a small team of artisans, using solid 14K gold, ethically sourced stones, and recycled materials wherever possible.

Also, every October I host a gallery pop-up in a vacant space in San Francisco to spotlight up and coming local artists from the Bay Area. For more information on my upcoming pop-up go to @oxide.collective on IG or www.oxidecollective.com

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Some of my earliest memories of feeling powerful come from climbing the tall chestnut tree in my backyard. The challenge wasn’t only the tree’s height, but also the spiky chestnut shells scattered below, threatening my stockinged feet if I slipped. As a child, I loved to wear frilly dresses while making mud pies or scaling that tree. Perhaps climbing trees in dresses was my first small act of rebellion, making me feel strong and powerful.

Interestingly, I find that same sense of power in my performance art today. Much like those childhood tree climbs that ended in messy dresses, I now create pottery on the potter’s wheel while wearing elegant dresses. Every year, I perform at the two-star Michelin restaurant Californios, shaping clay as guests enjoy Chef Val Cantu’s 12-course meal served on plates I’ve made. I also made pottery live at the 7×7 Gallery event in Jackson Square, allowing white clay to splatter my elegant dress made my Lan Jaenicke. When clay splatters against the fabric, it merges textures and transforms the dress into part of the artwork itself.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. I’ve been working on the pottery wheel for over 23 years, ever since I was 17 years old. In college I reached a crossroads: pursue art or follow a more conventional career. I chose the latter, majoring in political science and international relations, later earning a master’s degree in urban planning and a law degree.

I stepped away from my art—but my art never stepped away from me. Time and again, I found myself returning to the pottery wheel for meditation, relaxation, and solace. After years of practicing land use law and child welfare law, I paused to reevaluate my life path. Then I took a terrifying leap: I left law to become a full-time artist. It remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—what you see in public is the real me. I’ve learned that life only feels true when I live authentically in every facet of it. When I’m grounded in who I am, I connect more deeply with other artists and local brands, fostering the kind of creative synergy that allows my collaborative art to flourish.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say something like “watching Erin Hupp follow her passion and create her art on the pottery wheel was infectious and inspired me to {write a children’s book, journal every day, make a new fashion brand]”

My goal is to inspire others to be the most creative version of themselves. I believe that creativity is something everyone has, and that making art in any form can bring happiness and a deeper connection to our authentic selves. I create art that is not only beautiful and inspiring, but that also encourages others to reflect on their own creativity and discover what they can make for themselves!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.erinhuppceramics.com/
• Instagram: erinhuppceramics

Image Credits
Hannah Franco, Kelly Puleio and Adahlia Cole