Theater & Arts
THE ALL-WOMAN team behind Laro Ceramics believes that pottery is one of the most personal methods of self-expression. Working with clay is a deeply intimate craft—one that nurtures vulnerability and fosters a tender sense of self-forgiveness. Nestled along the winding stretch of Katipunan Extension, the studio champions growth, openness, and community.
These ideals extend into empowering women and young girls to hone their innate creativity. Pottery as a practice teaches its artists as much about themselves as it does about the craft. From its formless beginnings, clay evolves into whatever concrete object you shape it into through a slow learning process. Plenty of patience is needed for such a malleable medium, but in its transformation, its journey reflects the maker.
Vessel for creation and connection
For founder Erika Austria, what began as a deeply personal pursuit soon unfolded into a space for collective healing and artistic expression. “Ceramics became my way of reconnecting with myself,” she shares. During the time she was mourning her grandfather’s passing, pottery became a calming ritual for the ceramicist, allowing her to be present, embrace stillness, and find peace in slowing down.
Unlike other art forms where precision reigns, pottery embraces imperfections by turning flaws into beauty. Erika finds the craft liberating, as it encourages loosening the grip on perfectionism and focusing instead on the organic process of shaping, molding, and allowing the clay to naturally evolve.
More than just a tactile art, pottery becomes a deeply introspective practice. For Erika, each turn of the wheel and each imprint of the hand is an act of reflection and a quiet conversation with the self. In this way, the medium is not just about creation but also healing, encouraging past wounds to soften and mend as naturally as clay yields to touch.
Erika’s personal refuge soon transformed into Laro Ceramics—a space where creativity, healing, and community intertwine. Amid the pandemic, she, like many others, felt the need to step away from screens and reconnect with something tangible. Hence, pottery became that outlet, offering a grounding experience during a time of uncertainty.
Upon returning home from an intensive pottery course she attended in Tuscany, Italy, the longing for the artistic camaraderie she had experienced felt like another piece of hand-carry luggage. This desire for connection ultimately led her to establish Laro Ceramics as a studio where individuals—especially women—could gather, create, and embrace the beauty of imperfection.
Shaping confidence and safe spaces
Among those who found a home at Laro Ceramics is Bri Cayetano (AB COM ‘21), who transitioned from a remote marketing role to a hands-on craft. As someone who once struggled to find the right artistic outlet, Bri shares that pottery reshaped her understanding of creativity, teaching her to release control, embrace mistakes, and allow her work to evolve in unexpected ways.
Both Erika and Bri found it fascinating how pottery fostered shared experiences, particularly among women. “There’s this unspoken understanding—this connection that happens when you’re sitting side by side, hands covered in clay—creating something from nothing,” Erika reflects. This communal aspect of ceramics reinforced her belief that art is not just personal, but deeply relational as well.
At Laro Ceramics, this philosophy translates into a welcoming, judgment-free space where all individuals can freely express themselves. The Laro Ceramics team ensures that each person who walks through their studio’s doors—whether they are novice hobbyists or seasoned artists—feels supported. Through a mix of beginner-friendly workshops and more advanced courses, the pottery studio nurtures not just skill but confidence as well. “I want Laro to be a place where people feel seen—where they can take up space, create without hesitation, and just exist without pressure,” Erika emphasizes.
The effects of this inviting environment are something both Erika and Bri have witnessed firsthand, citing the experience of a nine-year-old girl who joined their Clay Club membership. For Bri, moments like this define the true purpose of her work—creating a space where people feel safe and inspired to explore pottery. She shares that seeing individuals become comfortable enough to immerse themselves in the craft is what makes her creative practice meaningful.
As pottery mirrors the cyclical nature of learning and subsequently unlearning, it also becomes a prolific metaphor for womanhood—an ongoing process of introspection shaped by experiences, mistakes, and tranquil triumphs. Laro Ceramics is more than a studio; it is a space of empowerment, where artistry and authenticity are molded hand in hand.
A sisterhood molded by care
The team’s commitment to comfort and connection extends beyond the studio’s walls, actively bringing their crafts to different communities. Through pop-ups and collaborations, such as hosting a mug-making workshop for a group of working mothers in 2024, Laro Ceramics ensures that pottery remains accessible to those who may not have spaces of their own.
“We always try to say that it’s alright, it’s going to be okay—you can always start again,” Bri shares.
Whether through workshops, shared experiences, or simply the reassurance that mistakes are part of the process, Laro Ceramics exemplifies the power of creativity and connection in fostering sisterhood for women of all ages and backgrounds.
For Erika, this mission is deeply personal. “I called it Laro (play) because it was meant to be a safe space for healing the inner child,” she shares. At Laro Ceramics, pottery is more than an art form—it is a means of self-discovery, empowerment, and collective growth.
Bri echoes this sentiment, emphasizing that what sets Laro apart is its unwavering commitment to comfort and community. “We make sure that in the way we teach, interact with customers, and even package our work, there’s a sense of warmth that makes people feel safe,” she explains.
Ultimately, the heart of Laro Ceramics isn’t just in the clay—it’s in the hands that mold it, the stories that emerge from it, and the people who come together to create something meaningful.
