Through Articurate, ceramic artist Archana Desai creates functional pottery while working towards establishing her own studio
CHRISTINE MACHADO
NT BUZZ
Pottery began as a hobby for Archana Desai, who first tried the craft during a class at her friend Sonali Bolar’s studio. Having grown up around women who enjoyed knitting, sewing and painting, Desai also took up oil painting during college before exploring ceramics.
After moving to Goa in 2022, she continued working with clay at Thomas Louis’ studio in Mala, Panaji. The sale of her ceramic pieces encouraged Desai to pursue the craft further. In 2024, she established Articurate, a Panaji-based studio offering tableware, planters, goblets, vases and lighthouse lamps.
“My favourite piece has to be the lighthouse lamp. It represents Goa and its people,” she says. Desai also creates custom ceramic pieces for cafes, boutique hotels and individuals. She adds, “I love working with clay because I can shape forms and paint on the pieces I create.”
The process, however, has its challenges. She shares, “Breakages can increase production costs, and turning clay into a finished piece takes at least two weeks.” Desai notes that customers may not always consider the time involved in making studio pottery.
“What keeps me going is the sheer love of working with clay and the fact that I get to work out of a lovely studio ‘Claykind’ by Medha Agarwal and be part of a community of fellow creatives,” she says.
Desai hopes to establish her own studio, where she can continue making ceramics and teach others. She also plans to take formal courses to develop her skills and experiment with using ceramics alongside wood and metal. With a craft exhibition scheduled for later this week and an art show to follow, she is preparing to present her work to new audiences. For now, she continues to develop Articurate at her
own pace.
