ABOUT STUDIO PEMA

Tomomi is the potter behind Studio Pema in Apex, North Carolina.

She took her first ceramics class during her final semester of college as an elective for her Art minor, where she learned the fundamentals of hand-building and wheel throwing. Since then, she has continued exploring different techniques through classes at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia and the YWCA Toshiko Takaezu Ceramics Studio in Honolulu. After taking a long break from working with clay while raising her two daughters, Tomomi returned to the studio when her younger daughter started school—this time in North Carolina.

Tomomi creates functional pottery with both beauty and practicality in mind, bringing handmade objects into everyday life. She is drawn to simple designs, organic shapes, and thoughtful forms. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, the concept of appreciating imperfection, she takes pride in making each piece unique through subtle variations and individual character. You may not find her work perfectly round, symmetrical, or straight, but she hopes you will discover the beauty of imperfection that makes handmade pottery so special.