My guest today is the incredible Melissa Goldstein, a ceramic artist based in Brooklyn, New York.  Her work – hand thrown and painted with a cobalt stain and the occasional metallic splatter – is inspired by 17th century German and Japanese botanical illustration, and draws on numerical calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology. 

Every piece is absolutely exquisite: from platter to vase, the flowers seem to grow, the birds careen midflight. The details speak to a life of close observation and deep immersion in art and the world as a garden.

My guest today is Melissa Goldstein, a ceramic artist I have long admired. Melissa is based in Brooklyn, New York.  Her work – hand thrown and painted with a cobalt stain and the occasional metallic splatter – is inspired by 17th century German and Japanese botanical illustration, and draws on numerical calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology.  Her pieces are absolutely exquisite: from platter to vase, the flowers seem to grow, the birds captured midflight. They speak to a life of close observation and deep immersion in art and the world as a garden.

If you are in New York, please make your way to Fox Fodder Farm to see more of the vases we discuss. You can buy Melissa’s pieces in all their forms at the lovely E-E Home, or on her website, Mg by hand.

Garden People Podcast from @violetear_studio

L I S T E N

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S H O W N O T E S

Melissa Goldstein

Mg by hand

John Cage

E-E Home

Fox Fodder Farm

Ngoc Minh Ngo

P L A N T L I S T

Flowering quince - Chaenomeles speciosa

Lady tulip - Tulipa clusiana

Snake’s head fritillary, checkered fritillary - Fritillaria meleagris

Persian lily - Fritillaria persica