Meet the Maker: Megan Hollerbach

Welcome to the fourth installment of the "Meet the Maker" series here on the Mix & Match blog! If you enjoy reading this interview, check out the others in the series here.

I'm so excited to introduce Megan Hollerbach to you! She’s the woman behind the gorgeous pieces in her eponymous ceramics company. I know you’ll love getting to know her and her pretty pottery today. Read on below!

I was recently introduced to Megan at, of all places, my niece’s baptism! She’s a dear friend of some folks in my family, and when I caught a glimpse of her work, I knew I had to have her as a guest for the Meet the Maker series. She just launched her online shop a few weeks ago, so the timing was perfect for y’all to learn more about her and then hop on over to her website to take a look at all of her pretty pieces. I’m so excited for y’all to have the opportunity to bring some of her work into your homes!

And guess what? Megan has also generously offered Mix & Match followers 20% off of your purchase just in time for your holiday shopping! Use code MIXANDMATCH at checkout. (Valid through 12/17/19 at midnight, so don’t wait!)

Megan was kind enough to send over two of her planters for me to see and style in my house, and y’all, let me tell you - they’re even prettier than in person than I could’ve imagined! The lifestyle photos you see today with the leafy cactus and petite succulent are the ones I shot in my home, and you’ll also see some of Megan’s images mixed in too.

Now let's hear more from the founder herself - a very warm welcome to the Mix & Match Design Company blog, Megan!

Tell me a little bit of your story. Where are you based? What’s your personal/professional background?

I’m originally from Annapolis, MD, but have called Arlington, VA home for the past 5 years now. I found ceramics my last semester of college, but it wasn’t until recently that I took the step to be a full time artist/designer. Before I started working for myself, I worked in merchandising at Madewell, then in marketing at an architecture firm; always keeping a small ceramics practice on the side just for myself. I’ve always loved the creative design process and studied everything from architecture to graphic design to painting in college. It wasn’t until I started working with clay my last semester that I realized it was three-dimensional design that I was really interested in focusing on. 

Tell me about Megan Hollerbach, the business - how did you get started, and what made you want to design and manufacture ceramics?

After a couple years at the architecture firm, I really felt the urge to do something drastically different, so I quit my job with no plan other than to focus more on ceramics and explore other avenues to create with my hands. Looking back, I think I was really feeling the effects of the 9-5 grind and needed to find a lifestyle that was healthier and more sustainable for me.

Ever since then, I’ve been working in clay more seriously and taking on a lot of fun, creative jobs on the side, like arranging flowers, styling interiors, and merchandising for friends with small retail businesses. The ceramics piece really took off during a short residency at my friend’s studio in Philadelphia last year. I designed a line of vessels utilizing a few new techniques he taught me and within a matter of weeks, the collection was in stores in New York and Philadelphia, and I was shipping orders to Australia. It all happened so quickly, that I can’t say there was a moment I decided to pursue this path. It feels more like the door opened in front of me and I chose to walk through it!

Featured: Big Finn

How would you describe your style?

This is a tough one because I really enjoy a lot of different styles! But as of late, my personal style has been fairly minimal. I think it’s evolving in this direction because I’m in perpetual “visual-problem-solving-mode” in the studio and need a space that’s visually quiet in order to relax at the end of the day. The collection on my site right now feels simple, fresh, and unfussy, which I really enjoy.

Featured: Cactus

How do you generate new ideas? Do you study trends or do trends affect your design process?

More often than not, inspiration strikes from times in which I am playing and trying new things in the studio. I like to think of this time as a 3D conversation to explore something I’m curious about, like how two forms and their negative space relate to one another. I really enjoy this approach to beginning projects because I really value authenticity.

In the same vein, studying trends isn’t a part of my design process right now because I find the more I’m aware of them, the less authentic my work begins to feel. I can’t say that I’m entirely unaffected by them, but do I try to allow myself the space to be inspired by paying attention to the beauty in everyday life, too.

What are some of your current favorite pieces?

The piece that seems to always catch my eye around the studio these days is the Ruled Little Finn. I love the way the lines on the surface interact with the form and move your eyes around the piece. It’s the perfect size for a small plant, fresh blooms, or pens on our desk - I reach for it all the time at home and often give it as a gift. (Note from Chaney: Little Finn is one of the pieces you’re seeing in my photos!)

Featured: Small Cup (similar)

When you imagined your career path, did you ever think it would involve becoming a small business owner and creative entrepreneur? What are your favorite parts about having your own business and what’s most challenging?

If you were to have told me ten years ago that I would be working for myself as a creative entrepreneur, I probably would have laughed! But if I stop and look back through the years of working in retail and marketing, all the while keeping a small ceramics practice on the side, I should have seen this coming. 

Stepping out as an artist like this has stretched and shaped me in the best ways possible. Right now I’m learning how to navigate keeping a creative practice that is both life-giving and business-minded. It’s definitely my biggest challenge and I imagine one that will need to be reassessed often through different seasons of life.

I’ve loved so much about starting this business, but one thing that continues to surprise me is what it feels like to develop a piece from conception to completion and then see it have a life of its own out in the world. To create something entirely NEW that has never been before and to hear other people call it by the name I gave it after making it is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. It’s truly surreal and probably what I’ve enjoyed most about this work.

If you were to dream big, where do you see your company in five years?

This is pretty broad, but I hope that in five years my company is bringing work into the world that adds beauty to people’s everyday lives while staying true to quality craftsmanship and practices. I’m open to what that could look like, whether I continue to design collections under my own name or in collaboration with other brands. But if I could cultivate that ethos with a team of people with similar values, I’d be so proud.

Featured: Big Finn

Where can everybody find your products and follow along with you?

You can follow along with my story on Instagram @meganhollerbach and shop at meganhollerbach.com. Mix & Match followers are offered 20% off your purchase with code MIXANDMATCH through midnight on December 17th, 2019!

Thank you so much for sharing a peek into your story, creative process, and business, Megan! It's always a joy and seriously inspiring to hear about another creative entrepreneur's journey. To my Mix & Match friends, head on over to say hi to Megan on Instagram - let her know what encouraged or inspired you from today's interview!

-

Images apart from my own are courtesy of Megan Hollerbach.