Meet Dani Iwami | Ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dani Iwami and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dani, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I wouldn’t describe myself as a risky person. I’ve always tended to do things on the safer side. I was good at basketball so I played basketball. I got my degree in Environmental Studies and minors in Energy Policy and Economics and thought that would be sufficient towards building a career in the environmental field. But when I decided to pursue ceramics full time after graduating, I knew how big of a risk it would be. But I have to do it. Working with clay makes my life feel so much brighter. It’s the most fulfilling and lively feeling so I would say it is worth the risk. Taking that leap of faith will always be worth it if you’re willing to do everything in your power to make it work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I took Ceramics I for a year in high school and I remember telling myself this was what I wanted to do with my life after I retired from my “big girl job.” 17 year old me thought I’d be done working by 50 and have a pottery studio of my own to make art and enjoy the good life. Well shit was not sweet. Fast forward to 2020 (22 years old), I had torn my ACL and was going through an extreme identity crisis. I could no longer play basketball which is how I had always identified. But due to the injury, I had extra time in my college schedule so I signed up for the Ceramics for Non-Majors and from Fall 2020 on I have never looked back.
I spent hours and hours on the wheel after 3-5 hours of workouts and school. It became an obsession and a form of grounding that I needed in my life. The Ceramics professor had noticed my hard work and allowed me to take the Ceramics Studio series. Here I spent the next year and a half soaking up as much information as possible because I knew how valuable this time would be before it was time to decide if I wanted to jump into this full time. During this period, I experienced some of my greatest highs and lows as a human. I came to the realize that life felt most true when I was working with clay. I was willing to do whatever I needed to do to make working with clay a tangible career.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m from Seal Beach, California. It’s a small beach town nestled between Huntington and Long Beach. If I had a friend visiting I would take them out on the beach cruiser bikes that my sister and I won in elementary school. We would bike down to the beach and grab smoothies from Calypso Juice and lay out for a while. Then we could bike over to Ballast Point Brewery during golden hour and maybe go fishing off the rocks. I just really enjoy riding bikes.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate this space to my parents. For believing in me every step of the way. I’m really lucky to have their support and love. I would like to make them proud.

Website: danikawaiistudios.com

Instagram: @danikawaiistudios

Other: tiktok: @danixkawaiiceramics