Maria Andrade

María Andrade is a ceramic artist based in Asheville, North Carolina, originally from Quito, Ecuador. She earned her BFA in Printmaking from UNC Asheville. María later studied at Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, where she worked as a studio assistant. In this teaching environment, her passion for ceramics grew, eventually leading her to open a working studio in Asheville’s River Arts District in 2002.

In her work, María draws inspiration from the interplay between form and function in the home. She believes pottery offers an ideal way to bring artistry into daily rituals. Using white stoneware clay, she creates wheel-thrown pots decorated with techniques such as mishima/inlay, wax resist, slip trailing, and carving. Her pieces are fired in an electric kiln to Cone 6, resulting in consistent glaze surfaces and a vibrant color palette.

Alongside her botanical pieces, María has developed a collection focused on custom pet portraits. These one-of-a-kind works feature hand-drawn images of beloved pets, often on mugs and other functional pottery.

Her creative practice is also inspired by her love of cooking, entertaining, and gardening. Through her work, María seeks to infuse joy into everyday moments.

María’s artistic journey has been marked by resilience. On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated the River Arts District in Asheville, where she had been working at Curve Studios. Floodwaters from the French Broad River submerged the entire district, causing severe damage and leaving her—and much of the arts community—unable to reopen. Despite this immense loss, María has continued her work with the support of fellow Western North Carolina artists and arts organizations. Of special note is ceramic artist Michael Hofman, who generously shared his gallery and studio space, allowing María to keep making pots.

Today, María is a resident artist at The Village Potters Clay Center, which was also displaced by the hurricane.