Navigating New Fame | Steven Brown | Episode 1162

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Steven Brown | Episode 1162

Steve Brown spent 25 years in film and VFX before becoming a full-time ceramicist this year. Steve makes reduction fired tableware which he sells via his website as well as supplying a Michelin-starred restaurant and recently exhibiting in his first gallery this summer. Steve now hopes to explore more sculptural forms, constantly pushing his work into new, expressive directions.

SPONSORS

  You can help support the show!

 

 

Number 1 brand in America for a reason. Skutt.com

 

 

 

For all your ceramic needs go to Georgies.com

 

I’m kind of curious about this, this new fame from being on The Great Pottery Throwdown and being a finalist in this 2025 season and how that has brought you some fame. How do you deal with the new recognition that has come your way?

I don’t mind it, really. It’s quite nice to chat to people, and it is a bit odd… sometimes because people think they may know me quite well because I’ve seen on T.  So I just have a good chat with them. I know it will disappear over time because they’ll have a new season out soon and then it’ll all disappear. So I’m kind of just enjoying it while it lasts.

I remember that there was this thing called the Oprah Winfrey Effect : People would go on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and then they would have a sudden inrush of interest. I’m curious about how your experiencing The Great Pottery Throwdown Effect… How do you know when to say yes and no to all the new opportunities?

I think it’s very difficult to say no. If it’s a very exciting job like the Japanese restaurant in London that contacted me. I love Japanese ceramics and my work is very influenced by Japanese work, so that’s an obvious yes. Where maybe a coffee shop that wants 300 mugs and they want me to sell them for £15 each. Then I’m going to say no. At first I was quite overwhelmed by it all. My partner, she’s quite good at organizing she’s more realistic than myself, and she helped me. So now I just say yes to the jobs I really want to do.

Nice. You mentioned your partner and she’s being kind of that rock for you. And I’m curious… is that kind of a bit of a secret is to not go it alone?

That’s a good point. I’m not very organized, but my partner used to be a teacher, so she’s really good at. I think so. I don’t know how I could not have coped without her. She helped me plan the year. I’ve even started to plan next year. So she’s really good.

So it sounds like even with the with the help of a team like you and her working together, how do you balance chasing opportunities versus being committed to responsibilities?

I just think that comes with experience of things and learning from mistakes too. I took on this big job for the restaurant. I was also trying to have an online sale. I find myself in the evenings working and in the mornings and just not seeing my partner. I think once you’ve made that mistake, you just get too busy. Yeah. I think it comes with experience after a couple of years. So it’s been a lot of learning this year.

How do you maintain your values and ethics for yourself and making?

I think there’s a certain percentage of things you just have to say yes to. And maybe it’s not quite what you want to do, but you do. It’s all about trying to earn that money. So I’m going to spend this month making these mugs for this coffee shop or for do the restaurant work. And then I think what’s really important. And what I’m realizing at the moment is to spend now and again to spend a week just doing your own work and doing your own R&B and just really doing that.

How are you preparing for the potential decline, the potential popularity decreasing, and to be able to maintain kind of long term focused sustainability for making when the fame is gone?

I’ve thought about The Pottery Throwdown for the last couple of months, and I’m kind of ready to move on. I’m looking forward to the next stage now and moving on. To be honest, it was great while it’s lasted. I think this year will slowly fizzle out and I just look forward to it.

Book

The Complete Guide to Mid Range Glazes by John Britt

Contact

stevebrownceramics.com

Instagram: @steve_brown_ceramics