BIO

Maureen Costantino is a ceramic artist based in Northern Virginia. She holds a Master’s degree in Ceramic Arts from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. Working primarily in functional forms, her work combines original vessel design with hand-painted and graphic surface imagery influenced by cultural heritage, personal history, and abstraction. Drawing on a background in writing, photography, and the visual arts, Ms. Costantino creates one-of-a-kind ceramic pieces that balance utility with sculptural presence.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I lay claim to many descriptions of myself—Italian American, scholar, retired professional, and lifelong artist. In recent years, my work has celebrated the exuberance of hard-earned freedom to pursue artistic inquiry with intention, curiosity, and sustained commitment.

Drawing on decades of experience in writing, photography, painting, and graphic arts, I now explore the expressive possibilities of three-dimensional ceramic form. Although my artistic roots are firmly grounded in two dimensions, clay has become my primary medium and my preferred vehicle for artistic communication. I hold a Master’s degree in Ceramic Arts from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and create functional, whimsical, one-of-a-kind pieces for the home that often blur the boundary between utility and sculpture. I design many of my functional forms specifically for my practice, developing original solutions for everyday objects that balance utility, individuality, and visual interest.

My business name, Ceramiclectia, reflects my commitment to fluid, eclectic design informed by cultural heritage and personal history. My work ranges from Italian majolica-inspired imagery of fruits, vegetables, and flowers on bowls, plates, and cups, to geological and graphic abstractions on functional kitchenware, to meditative doodles on both functional and non-functional forms. Each piece evolves intuitively through the making process while remaining grounded in a consistent visual language, emerging as a singular object that is both surprising and recognizable as part of a cohesive artistic voice.