Isabelle Abramson | Artisan Profile

Isabelle Abramson is a fan of serenity. That’s why the ceramics artist, who works in a studio in Boston’s South End, is house-hunting in Vermont. “I feel really good about my neighborhood in Boston, and I needed to be in a city to get started so that I could have access to people and show my work,” she says. “I also love how easy it is to get to beautiful forests and beaches from here.” But now that she’s achieved a certain level of success, she’d like to be more firmly rooted in a calm, natural setting. “I want to grow food and plant trees,” she explains. “I really need some quiet.” The need for quiet applies to Abramson’s creative work, as well. She briefly attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, but making art in the classroom didn’t suit her. “I need to be in a room alone to do anything good,” she says. So she changed course, went to Boston College, and became a school nurse. She found a pottery co-op down the street, and it was there that she began her private study of ceramics, learning how to work with porcelain. Today, she makes her acclaimed pieces all in white. “I can’t even imagine using color,” she notes. “My studio is 200 square feet. I’d be overwhelmed if I were working with color. By keeping the color part simple, I can focus on design, texture, and form.” And the result is a collection of gorgeous vases, bowls, and votives that could bring a touch of serenity to any environment.