A workbench with scissors and thread, a pegboard with various tools including a saw and brushes, and a wooden shelf with pottery and art supplies in a studio or workshop setting.

The Studio

Yama Ceramics Studio is a small-batch pottery space nestled at the base of Mount Rubidoux in Riverside, California. "Yama" is the Japanese word for mountain—a nod to the rugged landscape that surrounds my studio and deeply influences every piece I make.

Everything here is crafted with a focus on tactile texture and intentional design. From the rhythm of the pottery wheel to the quiet detail of a hand-painted botanical, the goal is to create functional art that brings a sense of the outdoors into your daily life. Because these are made in small batches, every mug, bowl, and vase carries its own unique character and the subtle marks of the handmade process.

The Maker

Molly Puzo

Artist & Educator

I spend my days split between my studio and my ceramics classroom. As a professional artist and high school teacher, I’ve spent years sharing the language of clay with others.

My work is inspired by a life spent exploring California’s deserts and coastlines. Whether I'm throwing a marbled stoneware teapot or painting a Poppy Tea Pocket Mug, I aim to create pieces that are durable enough for daily use yet beautiful enough to be a favorite in your home.

A woman with wavy brown hair and a nose piercing is decorating a tall, cone-shaped, unglazed terracotta pottery piece with multiple holes. She is holding a tool and working on the pottery, which has a rough surface and is placed on a wooden table, with small clay fragments scattered around.