Rae Dunn | |
---|---|
Born | 1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)
Fresno, California, United States |
Occupation(s) | Ceramist, company founder |
Rae Dunn (born 1962 or 1963), [1] [2] is an American ceramist best known for her eponymous brand of ceramic wares and pottery.
Rae Dunn was born in Fresno, California, where she grew up. [3] [4] Her brand's about page describes her as a classical pianist and painter. [5] Dunn began taking piano lessons at the age of four. [1] In her youth, Dunn and her siblings were in a band named "The Dunns". [6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from her hometown Fresno State in Industrial Design before moving to San Francisco in the 1980s. [4] [6]
While in San Francisco, Dunn worked in retail, graphic design, and fashion, and also opened a French bistro in Pacific Heights with her then-fiancé. [4]
Dunn later found a passion for clay art while working as a waitress in 1994. [4] [5] Her waitressing job allowed her free time during the day, which she used to go exploring. [4] Then in her 30s, while walking in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Dunn came across the Sharon Art Studio. [1] The public space offered workshops and classes; Dunn signed up for a clay art class after flipping a coin. [6] Dunn's work is "strongly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi". [1] [5] Country Living described Dunn's art style as "simple, cozy, and organic." [1]
In 1995, she began to pursue ceramics full-time and founded her eponymous brand. [4] Her ceramic work was featured in Martha Stewart Living. [1] In 2013, Dunn opened her own studio and gallery. [7]
After deciding to pursue ceramic art as a full-time career, she founded her eponymous brand of ceramic wares in 1995. [4] She later secured a licensing deal with Magenta, Inc. and since 2003, the ceramics manufacturer has mass-produced her line of wares. [4] [6] [8] The brand gained increased popularity in the 2010s due to a confluence of the "farmhouse chic" trend and rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. [8] [9]
The brand's wares are known for featuring simple designs and one- or two-word phrases, like "yum" or "family" emblazoned on them. [2] [9] [10] These phrases are also labeled with the brand's signature font, a "delicate, unadorned, hand-crafted" typeface. [2] [11] White or cream-colored ceramic mugs and containers have been cited by media outlets as among the brand's most popular. [2] [12]
Products from the brand have been cited to be considerably coveted, with shoppers of the brand lining up early prior to a store's opening in order to acquire products. [9] [13] Dunn's brand has attracted a cult following, with shoppers being nicknamed "Rae Dunners" and "Rae Dunn Women" and labeled as "rabid" and "feral" by media outlets. [1] [12] [14] Additionally, "a voraciously focused secondary market of resellers, traders, and collectors has grown around the brand." [8] Dunn herself has acknowledged the following behind her brand, referring to it as a "weird phenomenon" that she never intended to cause. [2] She also expressed being sad and upset about resellers, stating "I wish I could sell more of my handmade stuff. But when I do it, I know that people are buying it and reselling it for hundreds of dollars more," adding "I feel like I'm just being used." [2]
Since launching her brand, Dunn has ventured into writing. She has authored three books. [1]
Dunn is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, [1] having been based in Berkeley and Emeryville. [7] [4] She also has annual residencies in France. Dunn has been cited as "shy", "quiet", and "an introvert" in her personal life. [1] [2]
Rae Dunn | |
---|---|
Born | 1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)
Fresno, California, United States |
Occupation(s) | Ceramist, company founder |
Rae Dunn (born 1962 or 1963), [1] [2] is an American ceramist best known for her eponymous brand of ceramic wares and pottery.
Rae Dunn was born in Fresno, California, where she grew up. [3] [4] Her brand's about page describes her as a classical pianist and painter. [5] Dunn began taking piano lessons at the age of four. [1] In her youth, Dunn and her siblings were in a band named "The Dunns". [6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from her hometown Fresno State in Industrial Design before moving to San Francisco in the 1980s. [4] [6]
While in San Francisco, Dunn worked in retail, graphic design, and fashion, and also opened a French bistro in Pacific Heights with her then-fiancé. [4]
Dunn later found a passion for clay art while working as a waitress in 1994. [4] [5] Her waitressing job allowed her free time during the day, which she used to go exploring. [4] Then in her 30s, while walking in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Dunn came across the Sharon Art Studio. [1] The public space offered workshops and classes; Dunn signed up for a clay art class after flipping a coin. [6] Dunn's work is "strongly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi". [1] [5] Country Living described Dunn's art style as "simple, cozy, and organic." [1]
In 1995, she began to pursue ceramics full-time and founded her eponymous brand. [4] Her ceramic work was featured in Martha Stewart Living. [1] In 2013, Dunn opened her own studio and gallery. [7]
After deciding to pursue ceramic art as a full-time career, she founded her eponymous brand of ceramic wares in 1995. [4] She later secured a licensing deal with Magenta, Inc. and since 2003, the ceramics manufacturer has mass-produced her line of wares. [4] [6] [8] The brand gained increased popularity in the 2010s due to a confluence of the "farmhouse chic" trend and rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. [8] [9]
The brand's wares are known for featuring simple designs and one- or two-word phrases, like "yum" or "family" emblazoned on them. [2] [9] [10] These phrases are also labeled with the brand's signature font, a "delicate, unadorned, hand-crafted" typeface. [2] [11] White or cream-colored ceramic mugs and containers have been cited by media outlets as among the brand's most popular. [2] [12]
Products from the brand have been cited to be considerably coveted, with shoppers of the brand lining up early prior to a store's opening in order to acquire products. [9] [13] Dunn's brand has attracted a cult following, with shoppers being nicknamed "Rae Dunners" and "Rae Dunn Women" and labeled as "rabid" and "feral" by media outlets. [1] [12] [14] Additionally, "a voraciously focused secondary market of resellers, traders, and collectors has grown around the brand." [8] Dunn herself has acknowledged the following behind her brand, referring to it as a "weird phenomenon" that she never intended to cause. [2] She also expressed being sad and upset about resellers, stating "I wish I could sell more of my handmade stuff. But when I do it, I know that people are buying it and reselling it for hundreds of dollars more," adding "I feel like I'm just being used." [2]
Since launching her brand, Dunn has ventured into writing. She has authored three books. [1]
Dunn is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, [1] having been based in Berkeley and Emeryville. [7] [4] She also has annual residencies in France. Dunn has been cited as "shy", "quiet", and "an introvert" in her personal life. [1] [2]