Larissa Goodwin first discovered clay while studying at Elam Art School, where she explored it through sculptural and installation-based work. Her passion for pottery deepened during time spent living in Japan, where beautifully crafted ceramics are part of everyday life. After returning to New Zealand, she continued learning through pottery classes and an internship with Kirsten Dryburgh before setting up her own studio, Goodwin Ceramics, in Matamata. Since then, ceramics has become a lifelong pursuit.
How do you decide what a new piece will look or feel like before you start?
Most of the time, new pieces come from a need in my own home or a request from a friend or client. I don’t make overly decorative work, I have a colour palette I enjoy, and at the moment I’m using matte glazes so those limitations help keep everything cohesive.
Do you have a favourite technique or style that you keep returning to?
There’s so much muscle memory now that pieces often emerge from the clay with my own style naturally embedded in them. My carved Tetto range was an exploration in loosening up and introducing more chance into the work, although after making so many there’s a restraint there now too. I mostly work on the wheel where I can make large quantities quickly, but the beauty of handmade ceramics means each one is unique.
Is there a moment when a piece turns out better than you expected? What does that feel like?
Potters will know the joy of opening the kiln and having everything turn out well is rare! There are so many opportunities for things to go wrong throughout the process. Often, it’s a conversation with someone else, seeing a piece through fresh eyes that helps me move past my own critique. I really try to remember to celebrate the successes.
Do you have a favourite piece you use every day, or that has a special place in your home?
Our fruit bowl is one of the original pieces I made during my internship. It was the biggest piece I’d made at the time, and I’m really glad I kept it. I had so much encouragement from my loved ones when I first started with pottery, and that piece reminds me of how far I’ve come.
How does your studio or environment influence your creativity?
I have two little kids, so my stage of life really dictates my creative time at the moment. I’m incredibly grateful to have a studio space at home where I can duck in, make a mess, and shut the door. Being able to be alone, listen to an audiobook, and just get stuck in is my happy place. In terms of inspiration, it often comes from unexpected places. We watch a lot of films and I’ll pause to take a screenshot of something I’ve seen. And it's often not even pottery, it’ll be woodwork or a painting that has sparked an idea.
What’s one thing about making ceramics that still brings you joy every time?
There’s just so much to learn. There will always be a new glaze to explore or a shape I haven’t tried. I love that I’ve found something I can go deep into and build lifelong knowledge around.
Looking back, what has making ceramics taught you about yourself?
It’s shown me how resilient I am. There have been countless times when something has gone wrong, I’ve promised too much, or I’ve felt out of my depth. But I love it, and I keep coming back for more. There is so much potential in ceramics, I'm excited to see where it takes me.