Anne-Sophie Lenoir
So' Ceramic
Ceramicist
Prévessin-Moëns, France
Bringing beauty to small moments
- Anne-Sophie makes tableware pieces that reflect the seasons
- She cares about imbuing everyday life with beauty through objects
- Teaching has become her second passion
After earning a degree in fashion design in Paris and leading a successful career in visual merchandising, Anne-Sophie Lenoir discovered her passion for ceramics during the Covid pandemic. What started as a hobby soon led to long days spent in her unheated garden shed, increasingly enthralled with the possibilities and the process of working clay. As the pandemic winded down, Anne-Sophie resolved to get formal training. She undertook a 10-month certification programme with celebrated ceramicist Grégoire Scalabre at the Scalabre Mercier Studio in Paris. In 2024, Anne-Sophie founded So’ Ceramic and opened her studio in the Pays de Gex area on the French-Swiss border in 2025. She creates functional tableware in small series, drawing on her commercial background to plan collections around seasonal moments. She also offers workshops to transmit her joy of working with clay.
INTERVIEW
My work has been called 'gentle and poetic', which I suppose reflects my personality. I work with stoneware, because I love the contrast between rustic unglazed surfaces and a glossy or satin glaze. I use neutrals and soft colours inspired by nature.
My starting point is always the question: what do people need? I want to create objects that enhance daily life. Drinking from a handmade cup makes coffee feel more special, does it not? I design for function while incorporating details like a tulip-cut rim to add a bit of poetry.
Perseverance! It took persistence to find my way and pursue ceramics. Pieces crack in the kiln, glazes result in surprises: you have to get used to starting over. The medium itself is even about perseverance as clay manages to stay sturdy while appearing delicate.
When I started out, I could not find many training workshops in my area. But I got to study with Grégoire Scalabre who is an exceptionally gifted teacher. When I opened So' Ceramic, I wanted to share my joy with others. I did not expect to love teaching so much!
