Inspiring Women – Alba López: Ceramics, Colour and a New Perspective on Everyday Life

We are excited to begin this conversation with Alba López, ceramist and founder of Mërm Studio, whose work stems from her contact with clay and creating with her hands. Through her pieces, Alba transforms everyday objects into pieces with character, exploring the balance between the functional and the sculptural. To begin, we would like you to tell us how Mërm Studio came about and what led you to work with ceramics.

Hello, sailors! Mërm Studio was born during the pandemic. At the time, I was working as a sales representative in an office and felt that I lacked purpose; I needed to devote myself to something more creative. During the mandatory lockdown in 2020, I began to research ceramics, a material that we live with every day but to which I had never really paid attention. I was fascinated to discover how clay could be transformed into useful objects, and after researching the process and materials, I started practising. I soon realised how special it was to be able to create something with my hands that had previously only existed in my imagination.

Your ceramics have a very powerful and recognisable visual language, especially with pieces such as the "Block Mugs", where you mix organic shapes with very geometric and bold handles. How did you come to define this unique style between the functional and the sculptural?

Finding my style has been one of the biggest challenges. It's been about five years since I started modelling with clay, and my pieces have evolved a lot during this time. Ceramics requires perseverance, practice and a lot of trial and error. I feel that it is only relatively recently that I have begun to feel truly aligned and more creative. I am particularly drawn to the mixture of organic and more geometric shapes; it is a way of breaking with the 'normality' of the rounded shapes so common in traditional ceramics.

Something that mesmerises us about your work is the textures. We see vases that seem to have a life of their own, with finishes reminiscent of sea corals, stones or foam. What do you enjoy most about experimenting with glazes and textures in small-batch ceramics?

Glazes are one of the most complex parts of ceramics and something I still need to work on. For now, many of the most interesting results have come from mistakes.

In your recent posts, you mention that you are in your 'colour era'. You are moving from earthy and neutral tones to vibrant colours and bold colour blocks. What role does colour play in your mood and in the pieces you are currently creating?

As I mentioned, finding my style has been a long process, and for a long time I didn't feel completely identified with what I was creating. That caused me frustration and many creative blocks. This "era of colour" marks the beginning of a new stage for me, in which I feel more prepared, inspired and confident in my work as a ceramist. Colour has come as a form of expansion, freedom and enjoyment.

Pottery is an art form that forces you to slow down, wait for the piece to dry, respect the firing times... What has clay taught you about patience and the creative process in a world that often moves so fast?

Clay has taught me to slow down and, above all, to practise detachment. I think that's the most important part. Pottery is totally unpredictable: a piece can dry badly, crack, break in the kiln... Over time, I've learned to appreciate both the strength and fragility of the material. I'm quite stubborn, so I've never given up when something went wrong. That lesson applies to both pottery and life.

Your pieces are everyday objects (cups, plates, vases, dishes or containers) elevated to the status of art. What do you seek to convey to the person who holds one of your cups every morning with their coffee?

For a long time, I was quite a negative person, but a few years ago I began to train my mind and change certain ways of relating to myself. I believe it is important to learn to romanticise life and the little things. Something as simple as drinking coffee or tea from a special cup, one that is more aesthetic, with presence, or simply knowing that it is handmade and unique, can elevate the vibration of that everyday moment.

Finally, Mërm Studio has evolved tremendously in a short period of time. Looking ahead, are there any new techniques, large-scale formats, or dream projects that you haven't explored yet and are dying to try?

I would love to create large-scale clay pieces, especially furniture: tables, lamps... I would also be very excited to exhibit my work in a gallery.

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We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to delve into Alba's story and the reflections that shape her work. Her approach to ceramics, based on process, intuition and experimentation, and her ability to transform everyday objects into pieces with character, is deeply inspiring. We look forward to seeing how her creative language continues to evolve and the new paths she will explore in the future.

To our readers, we encourage you to follow Alba on Instagram and keep an eye out for her upcoming projects. We are excited to accompany her in the next chapters of her creative journey.

Photograph by Mariona Sorrosal

Interview conducted by Agostino Lo Nardo, part of Don Fisher's crew