Meet Elise Goitia of Capitol Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise Goitia

Hi Elise, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Art was intrinsic to the making of my character from an early age. Aside from drawing commissions, writing books, painting and tattoo designs, making pottery was a wild gimmick along the way. I had one class in college where I was taught the basics by my professor and I fell deeply, deeply in love with the process. YouTube supplemented my knowledge and I’ve been a potter since.

Getting a wheel was tough, but I penny-pinched until it was possible, and found a studio to fire my pieces at cost. Discovering a sellable pottery niche was the next step, but in the end, all I had to do was pay attention to what came naturally. Better yet, my trippy colors, sailor mouth and activism would be the key factors to making this a reality. The things that make me, me, paired with a sublime passion for ceramics are the inspirational force behind my business.

I noticed there were things I wanted to see that weren’t made, so I made them. This branched out from mugs to larger pieces embellished with sculptures of flowers and other botanicals.

Today, I’m a professional ceramicist living off of my art. I’m privileged enough to be an artist in my favorite city.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never been a smooth road, and absolutely never a boring one. One of the biggest things I faced as a ceramicist in Denver is supporting myself off my work in a high-cost city. Though Denver is hugely supportive of artists in theory, financially, it’s a different story. Rental costs from apartments to studio spaces usually eclipse the average artist income. That being said, the local community shows up for its artists—hence, our continued survival.

When I started my business, it was a huge leap of faith in myself. I was working a full-time demanding job at minimum wage, trying to make ends meet while finding the time to throw clay. I’d been told from a young age my art would likely never support me and if I were to make art, I needed a stable job to provide for it.

Starting and fully committing to Lita Clay was the first step away from that belief, replacing it with a new one: I was capable of making art and supporting myself at the same time. I needed to become independent entirely on my dreams. I was willing to climb any hill to make it happen.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My pottery focuses on glaze chemistry, prismatic effects and pushing the boundaries of language. Combining rainbows with humor, healing of trauma and social activism, my pieces are meant to speak across the barrier of a basic household item to one’s identity—dripping in vibrant pastels.

Each piece has anywhere between six and twelve glazes, painted on in an abstract process to create positive chemical reactions. My botanical pieces are made of delicately structured, realistic sculptures of plants adorning my hand-thrown vessels, and are absolutely my favorite thing to make.

My passion for my art comes alive in my work, as each piece is totally unique and inimitable. By working color theory into commercial glazing, I aim to create a spectrum in the palm of one’s hand.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Ceramics has become hugely popular since Covid struck, which gives more opportunity for the industry to reach new heights. With the booming artistic community in Colorado, localized pottery is more accessible than ever.

A big challenge the pottery world faces due to this is a constraint on supplies. Natural minerals and materials that are necessary in making clay and glazes are becoming more scarce. This makes costs increase for basic pottery needs, with other supplies and equipment facing rising prices as well.

This, of course, creates difficulties for potters who’ve made their living off their work for decades. However, the massive influx of new pottery friends makes up for it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://litaclay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lita.clay.ceramics/

Image Credits
Ari Sherman