Meet the Maker: Agathe Ceramics

Working from her Auckland studio, Agathe Ceramics creates thoughtful, hand-formed pieces that bring a quiet sense of beauty to everyday rituals. Originally from France, her work is shaped by a life lived between places, where earthy tones, natural textures and subtle details reflect both memory and landscape. Sitting somewhere between minimalist and playful, each piece carries its own gentle character, designed to be used, held and lived with.

We’re so pleased to have collaborated with Agathe on a candle vessel, crafted in a warm caramel-toned clay and a fresh white speckle, both feel grounding and inviting. We chatted with Agathe about her journey into ceramics, the influence of place, and the joy of creating pieces made to be part of daily life.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and how Agathe Ceramics began? What first drew you to working with clay?
My pottery journey started with a spontaneous booking during a COVID recovery, one class that turned into six months of working through every course available. From there, a friend's café in Mount Albert became my first stockist. Making things with my hands has always come naturally to me, and food has always been central to my life, I grew up in a family where it was everything, with a sister who's a chef and a brother who's a butcher. Pottery felt like the perfect meeting point: a craft that makes the food we love even more beautiful.

2. You’re originally from France but now based in Auckland. How have those two places influenced your work and aesthetic?
It's hard to narrow it down to just two, but nature is my biggest inspiration, walks with my dog, trees, the ocean, everything around me. If I had to pick two places though, the first would be Roussillon in France, the village, the colours, the smells and its surroundings are just stunning. The second is New Plymouth here in New Zealand. Mount Taranaki, the beaches, the landscape, it's beautiful. There's something special about the drive down from Auckland too, the way you move through so many different sceneries.

3. Your pieces feel both refined and relaxed - blending European charm with an Antipodean ease. How would you describe your design style?
My work sits somewhere between minimalist and playful. I love the simplicity of clean forms, but I can't resist adding a small drawing or a hint of colour to give each piece a little life. Since everything is made by hand, every piece is truly one of a kind, and I like to think that comes through. Each one has its own quiet character, its own charm.

4. What does your creative process usually look like from start to finish? Do you begin with a clear idea, or does each piece evolve as you work with the clay?
Honestly, my creative process is hard to pin down, an idea can strike anywhere. In the car, on a walk, something I've seen or a problem I'm turning over in my head. But whenever that spark hits, the feeling is always the same: this rush of excitement that makes me want to drop everything and get to the wheel. It's that urgency that drives me, from a random thought to my hands in the clay as quickly as possible.

5. We love the character of handmade ceramics - the subtle textures, variations and marks that make each piece unique. What do you enjoy most about working with clay?
What I love about working with clay is that every piece holds a little part of you. The wedging, the throwing, the energy you pour into it, it's all there. I don't use any shortcuts that would take away from the clay's natural character. After throwing each piece, I handle them by hand, and some will show that touch more than others. That's the point, really. Every piece carries its own small variations, just like people do. We're all shaped by what we go through, and it's those imperfections that make us interesting and fun.

6. You’ve created a candle for A&C in a lovely warm caramel clay tone. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this piece and how it came together?
Candles are such an intentional thing, you light one when you want to slow down, whether that's a peaceful moment to yourself or an evening with the people you love. That feeling of warmth was really the starting point. The caramel tone of the clay wasn't a complicated decision; it mirrors exactly what a candle does to a room. Warm, natural, grounding. The two just belonged together. 

7. What does a typical day in your studio look like?
Since I work full time, pottery is my weekend ritual. It always starts the same way, a good coffee, maybe a pastry, then I ease into glazing anything that's waiting for me before moving on to throwing. My cat and dog are never far away, and there's always music on. It's my favourite kind of day.

Quick Fire: Fill in the Blanks
My studio always has French songs playing in the background.
My morning usually starts with a coffee!
I feel most inspired when I am in nature
A shape or form I’m drawn to right now is cups and mugs, pieces that people will hold every single day.
One thing I love about working with clay is the endless possibility it holds.
The most satisfying moment in the ceramic process is seeing someone genuinely love a piece.
A piece I’m currently dreaming of making is is a set of plates and mugs for my sister. It would mean I'm about to see her, and that makes it even more special.
The perfect way to use one of my ceramics at home is simply to use it, that's what they're made for. But with winter coming, I love the idea of a cosy night in with a beautiful apero platter with some cheese and charcuterie, a glass of mulled wine, and candles flickering.