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After spending over a decade in the fashion industry, French ceramicist Elisa Uberti gradually shifted her focus towards ceramics; a deliberate, tactile practice that offered her the creative freedom she had been seeking. From her studio in Roubaix, where she has worked since 2018, she shapes stoneware into sculptural objects that hover between functional design and poetic artefact.
Her material of choice is stoneware, which she hand-builds using age-old coiling techniques. This approach, rooted in tradition, allows for great freedom of form while preserving the tactile memory of the hand. Rather than masking the process, she lets the texture, irregularities and rawness of the clay remain visible, turning each object into a unique, expressive presence. In her world, imperfection is not a flaw but a mark of life. 
The forms she creates are deliberately minimal, but never austere. Rounded, enveloping volumes evoke protection, stillness, and softness — echoing primal shapes such as shelters, wombs, or nests. They are inspired by the organic logic of nature, the stripped-down elegance of nomadic architecture, and the elemental character of earth and stone. Some of her most recognisable works are sculptural lamps and ceramic chairs. These objects gently play with balance, asymmetry, and shadow, often recalling the silence of landscapes or ancient dwellings. 
The objects are inspired by the organic logic of nature, the stripped-down elegance of nomadic architecture, and the elemental character of earth and stone
For the craftswoman, working with clay is also a form of resistance. A way of stepping away from mass production, seasonal trends, and rapid consumption. Her work embraces slowness and durability, both materially and emotionally. The timeless pieces invite long-term presence over passing fashions. She speaks of creating objects that ‘adapt to different times and styles’, capable of moving quietly through generations. 
There is a subtle tension in her work; between the technical constraints of ceramic-making and the spontaneity of intuitive gesture. Between refinement and rawness, form and emotion. She continuously explores this space, where design becomes more than function, and craft becomes more than tradition. Elisa Uberti’s objects invite touch, contemplation, and stillness. They hold space. 
Curious to discover more? Don’t miss our book ‘Craftswomen’!
Photography by Studio Mut's, Avant Jour, studio.b.helle, DSL Studio, Ibrahim Touhami
Text by Carolien Depamelaere