Marie Ballhause, a native of Stuttgart, studied communication design at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart. During her studies, she explored the academy's ceramics workshop—and was captivated by porcelain's creative potential from the start. Working at the potter's wheel demands considerable skill: porcelain is exceptionally fine and notoriously difficult to shape precisely. What's more, it shrinks far more dramatically than clay during the firing process.

What started as a creative counterbalance to screen-based design work has evolved into Marie Ballhause's primary profession. In 2020, she established her own studio within a shared artist space in Bad Cannstatt. Her distinctive aesthetic is defined by bold, harmonious colour choices and understated forms. Every piece is crafted with tactile pleasure in mind—the bases of her vases, cups, and bowls feature rounded edges, soft-polished surfaces, or turned feet for a refined touch. Marie colours her porcelain with pigments before turning, then applies transparent glaze for a luminous finish. Among her signature works is the Drip mug series, each created using traditional Korean wheel-throwing techniques. Available in two sizes and multiple colours, these vibrant cups pair beautifully with bowls in various sizes—perfect for appetizers, morning cereal, or salads. Beyond her own practice, Marie shares her passion generously: interested students can book pottery courses directly in her studio.

shop.marieballhause.com

Photography Credits:

Marie Ballhause
Fanny Engelhardt

(Published in CUBE Stuttgart 04|21)