We’re looking forward to introducing you to Annie Alarcon. Check out our conversation below.
Annie, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
An evening at the pottery wheel 🙂
Once you learn it, throwing in the wheel is like an act of meditation. We need to be present and centered, connected to our body and the clay so we an achieve some kind of form. We can loose track of time and feel calmed at the end.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We are Lustre Estudio, a vibrant creative space where a passion for ceramic creation meets a deep connection to the land and a commitment to responsible resource use. Our mission is to inspire the appreciation and use of ceramics at every level.
At Lustre, we offer a variety of workshops that encourage hands-on creation and experimentation with ceramics. Our aim is to enhance ceramic knowledge and support the professional growth of makers on both sides of the border.
In addition to workshops, we proudly produce high-quality, durable, and thoughtfully crafted ceramic pieces that reflect our artistic vision and enhance your table experience.
Through all our endeavors, we are dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and collaboration among ceramic enthusiasts.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Lustre was created on early 2020, a time where uncertainty was high and we all had to stay at home. It was a moment where we had really be creative in the middle of uncertainty. When you start a new project, a new business you have to adapt, and so we did. It was a period that tested our trust and ideas.
The first year of COVID really shaped our activities and view of the community, we wanted more than anything to get together with people to create, we all needed that. So we got creative and started doing online classes, providing to go kits; we made paint at home set of plates and tutorials among other things. We also lauched a project of Lustre talks, where we invited more than ten ceramic creators from around the workd to do online talks with us. All of those things allowed us to plant a seed during our first years, to start building the community that we know cointinue to nourish and love.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Sure! After 2021 we had a great season, where we received many visitors and students. Everyone was ready to meet, learn new things and connect with each other. Out ceramic studio was very succesfull. We loved being the happy place to so many people eager to be part of our community.
The following years, things settled, as things tend to naturally do in a new balance. At this time, we had to rethink our approach to ceramics, and adapt to the social change once again. It has been a journey of trying and learning, but thankfully we have never lost focus of what we really love; which is supporting and nourishing our creative community.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I believe many people have romanticized ceramics—especially through the lens of social media. Videos and photos often make the craft look effortless, glamorous, and fast. As a result, people sometimes approach us with project requests at unrealistically low prices, unaware of the time, skill, and energy each piece requires. Students, too, occasionally arrive expecting to learn ceramics at a rapid pace, inspired by how simple it appeared online.
We take pride in explaining the natural rhythm of the ceramic process: the value of materials, the human and electrical energy involved, and the patience needed for work to emerge from clay to finished form. Skills in ceramics are not instant—they are built slowly, through practice, persistence, and care.
One of the greatest lessons this craft offers is learning to be present, patient, and often unattached to the outcome. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to experience ceramics and embrace its steady, grounding pace. It is a challenge, but also a deeply rewarding one.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope Lustre will be remembered as a place that truly supported artists and helped elevate the local ceramic scene to new heights. I hope our students will carry with them memories of a loving, nourishing community, and that our artist residents will continue to thrive, enriched by what they learned and experienced during their time with us.
I hope the ceramics we’ve placed in people’s homes and restaurants will be held with affection—quiet companions in their daily rituals, reminders that beauty belongs in everyday life.
Above all, I hope our impact on the creative community, in all its layers, will be remembered as one of generosity, care, and lasting inspiration.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lustre-estudio.mx/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lustre.estudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lustre.estudio
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCDMM1ekeYgCLp7U8
Image Credits
Photos by Jeovanna Pérez (https://www.instagram.com/jeovanna.perez/)
