Ethan Streicher’s journey into ceramics is a story of passion, transformation, and the beauty of embracing the unexpected. A Brooklyn-based ceramicist, Ethan creates sculptural pieces that are more than just objects—they’re invitations to connect, touch, and feel. What began as a chance encounter with clay during his graphic design career quickly became a life-changing pursuit, one that allowed him to exchange the glow of a computer screen for the grounding, tactile joy of shaping something with his hands.
on Ethan : ONS Darcy Slub Waffle shirt
Diving Deep With Ethan Streicher : Q&A
Hi, Ethan! Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your work?
I’m Ethan Streicher, a ceramicist based in Brooklyn. I create sculptural pieces that interact with living spaces—objects people want to live with, touch, and feel a personal connection to.
How collaborative is your process? Do you work alone or with others?
Lately, I’ve been collaborating more. It’s been really fun—working with people who have different perspectives or processes pushes me creatively. Right now, I’m collaborating with a woodworker named Ian Love. We’re making side tables, a console table, and a bench. It’s cool because Ian and I share a similar background—he was a touring musician, and I was a graphic designer before ceramics. We both stumbled into this as a new passion.
I’ve also got an idea for a future project where I’d collaborate with illustrators. I’d build ceramic bases, and they’d paint or illustrate onto them. I’m imagining around 20 artists, all based in New York. The goal is to create something together and maybe even host a show afterward.
How did you get into ceramics? Was it something you always wanted to do?
Not at all! Growing up, my mom made glass beads, and my dad doodled, so creativity was around me, but ceramics wasn’t on my radar. It started when I met Nicole, a coworker at a graphic design job. She owned a small studio in Bushwick and invited me to try clay. I loved it immediately.
I’d been craving something tactile after years at a computer. Soon, I was at the studio four days a week—after work until 11 PM, then weekends too. About a year and a half ago, I turned it into my full-time thing.
What brought you to New York?
I’m originally from California, then moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. I knew I wanted to leave Raleigh for a bigger city—I was applying everywhere: Austin, California, Colorado. New York was where I landed my first job, and it stuck. I thought I’d stay five years, but it’s been ten. Now, it’s home.
How does New York influence your creativity?
It’s a double-edged sword. The city gives me anxiety, but that anxiety can fuel creativity. On one hand, seeing amazing work in galleries or meeting talented people pushes me—I want to be part of that conversation. On the other hand, there’s so much happening that sometimes I feel like I’m not doing enough.
But the diversity here is incredible. I’m a huge extrovert—I love meeting new people, and New York is perfect for that. The energy of the city is real. When I leave and come back, I feel it immediately.
Walk us through your creative process.
It always starts with sketching. I need that tactile step before jumping into digital. I’ll sketch shapes and silhouettes, then move to the computer to refine proportions, especially for functional pieces like lighting, where hardware needs to fit perfectly.
I’m more geometric than organic in my work—clean lines, balanced textures. Lately, I’ve been embracing the natural textures of ceramics instead of forcing perfection. For example, if a shape is simple, I might go wild with glaze or texture. It’s about finding harmony.
on Ethan : Far Afield Busey SS Shirt
What part of the process brings you the most joy?
Building, hands down. If I go too long without working with clay, I feel off. The physicality of it—playing with the material, shaping it—is what I love. Planning is fun, but the making is where I’m happiest.
What do you listen to while working?
It depends! Mornings are usually ambient or acoustic, afternoons might be house music for energy—it gives me a rhythm to work to. But my taste is all over the place. Some days it’s Mastodon blasting, other days it’s old John Mayer. I’d love to explore more music; you never know what new favorite you’ll find.
on Ethan : ONS Darcy Slub Waffle shirt , ONS Jackson Stretch Shorts
How does your personal style connect to your work?
I love mixing textures and patterns in my clothes—knitwear, waffle fabrics, loose fits. It’s similar to my ceramics: contrasting surfaces that play off each other. My studio “uniform” is practical—work pants and tees that can get dusty. But outside, I lean into neutrals and layered textures.
Shoes are my obsession. I’m on my feet all day, so comfort is key. I’m always noticing what people wear on the train—especially their shoes!
on ethan : KLEMAN Dormance P1 Derby Shoes
How important is touch in your work and life?
Huge. Touch is how I judge quality, whether it’s clothing or ceramics. A piece might look great online, but until I feel it, I don’t really know it. Texture, weight, how something moves—it all matters. That’s why I focus on creating objects that invite interaction.
If you could talk to yourself ten years ago, what advice would you give?
I’d say, “Embrace change.” Ceramics wasn’t even on my radar back then, and now it’s my main thing. Life can shift quickly, and that’s okay. Just dig in, keep doing what you love, and trust that things will unfold.
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