In Studio With: Where Porcelain Blooms
Chala Toprak
Interview By: Alvin Wayne
May 2026
For this edition of In Studio With, I visited ceramic artist Chala Toprak inside her Brooklyn studio, where porcelain quite literally blooms under her hands. As both a designer and collector, and a proud owner of one of her pieces, I have long been drawn to the quiet poetry embedded in her work. There’s a softness and intention to her forms that feels deeply human.
Originally trained in fashion in Istanbul, Chala approaches clay almost like fabric, shaping porcelain into fluid, petal-like compositions that celebrate life, growth, and the beauty of the handmade. During our conversation, we spoke about her evolution from fashion to ceramics, the symbolism behind her signature florals, and how she thoughtfully balances motherhood with a rapidly growing practice.
AoD: You began your creative career in fashion in Istanbul before relocating to New York and discovering clay. What was the moment when you realized ceramics had become your true creative language?
Chala: Before moving to New York, I worked as a designer for a fashion brand in Turkey. After nearly a decade of intense hours and constant production, I felt physically and emotionally drained. Relocating gave me the rare opportunity to pause and ask myself what I truly wanted in this new chapter. I knew I needed to remain creative, but I also knew it had to be something different.
One day, I made a list of all the things I had postponed trying. Ceramics was on that list. After my very first class, I fell in love with clay. It touched something deep within me. In that moment, I knew it would become something very special in my life. Clay offered me a new medium to express my creativity, and that discovery felt incredibly exciting and personal.
AoD: You have beautifully described working with clay almost like fabric. How has your fashion background shaped the way you approach movement, flow, and structure in porcelain?
Chala: My background in fashion gave me a strong understanding of how flat, two-dimensional materials like fabric can be transformed into three-dimensional forms that move with and around the body. Working with patterns, structure, and accessories trained my eye to think spatially.
After 14 years in fashion, that way of thinking became instinctive. When I began working with clay, I naturally approached it as if it were fabric. Porcelain became my new textile. I started experimenting with folds, movement, and form in much the same way I once did with garments, translating softness and flow into a more permanent material. That foundation has deeply shaped how I build structure while still preserving a sense of delicacy and movement in my work.
AoD: Your work feels poetic and personal. Where does your inspiration most often come from, and what is the emotional “why” that continues to drive your practice forward?
Chala: When I first began working with clay, I finally understood what it meant to feel truly present. After years of exhaustion in the fashion world, ceramics brought me back to myself. It felt meditative, almost like being in a state of Zen. Over time, I realized that clay was not only a creative outlet, but also a form of healing.
That experience became the emotional foundation of my practice. I want my work to carry that same sense of restoration and joy for others. When someone sees one of my floral pieces, I hope they recognize a reflection of themselves. Just like a bloom, each person is unique and shaped by time. I want my work to celebrate that growth and remind people to feel proud of who they have become. This healing process awakened a poetic side of me that I had never fully accessed before, and that continues to guide my work today.
AoD: Flowers are a signature in your work and are often described as a celebration of life. What do blooms represent for you on a deeper, more personal level?
Chala: I have always felt that people are like flowers. In a large garden, blooms may appear similar at first glance, but each one is entirely unique. The same is true for us. Every individual carries their own story, shaped by time and experience.
Flowers are also symbols of celebration. We give them to honor milestones, achievements, new beginnings, and love. In my work, these two ideas merge. My floral forms celebrate both the individuality of each person and the life they have built. They are reminders that simply becoming who you are is something worth honoring.
AoD: Alongside your studio practice, you also teach. What inspired you to open your process to others, and what do you hope students take away from working with clay?
Chala: Sharing your techniques can feel vulnerable. For me, teaching is an act of gratitude toward the clay community that supported me early on. Before opening my own studio, I worked out of community spaces, especially Gasworks NYC, which holds a special place in my heart. It was more than just a workspace; it was a community where artists genuinely helped one another grow.
Offering classes is my way of giving back. I hope students leave not only with technical knowledge, but with an understanding of the importance of sharing. I encourage them to take what they learn from me and transform it into something uniquely their own. That exchange of ideas is what keeps a creative community alive.
AoD: You are growing a global practice while also raising a young family. What does balance look like for you right now between motherhood, studio time, and creative energy?
Chala: Being a working parent is one of the most intense and beautiful challenges I have ever experienced. Growing a business while raising a child feels like riding the longest rollercoaster nonstop. There are emotional highs and lows, moments of exhaustion, and moments of incredible joy.
Some days I feel completely depleted; other days I feel unstoppable. What makes it possible is the unwavering support of my husband. His belief in me, especially during difficult moments, reminds me how far I have come over the past four years. Balance is not perfect or static. It is a constant adjustment, held together by love, resilience, and support.
AoD: As your practice continues to evolve, what feels most exciting or slightly unknown in this next chapter?
Chala: The next chapter feels open and full of possibility. While clay will always remain my primary medium, I am excited to explore new materials such as glass and brass, and to experiment with how they might interact with porcelain.
I also dream of participating in artist residencies in Europe once my son is older, spending several months immersed in a new cultural environment. The idea of expanding my practice across different mediums and continents feels both unknown and deeply inspiring. It is a future I am slowly building toward.
PRODUCTION
Curator
Alvin Wayne
Photography
Hoshi Joell
Video
Hoshi Joell