Marianna Di Giansante
I’m Marianna Di Giansante, an Italian ceramic artisan based in Brooklyn.
I create porcelain rings and ceramics for the home—pieces to wear, use, or share.
Everything is shaped slowly by hand, in small batches and often in limited series.
From Bologna to Brooklyn
I grew up in Bologna, a city where food, beauty, music and handmade crafts are part of everyday life.
Before relocating to New York for love, I managed restaurants and hotels in Italy. Here in New York, I trained as a professional chef and worked in a Michelin-starred kitchen—until the fast pace became overwhelming.
I turned to ceramics, hoping to find something still tied to the table, but slower and more tactile. I still reflect on how objects exist on the table, how they are held, and how they mark use and time. This perspective continues to guide my work.
I work with two types of porcelain: a French Limoges clay I carry from Italy in small amounts for jewelry, and a mid-range porcelain for pieces like match strikers, mini stands, plates, and other home pieces.
I like small formats because they require precision, patience, and variation. Even repeated forms shift slightly, shaped by mood or hand pressure.
My process is slow, and I choose to keep it that way.
In the Studio
WHY “ARGILLA?”
Argilla means clay in Italian.
I chose it because that’s where it all begins.
From the Latin argīlla and Greek árghilos, the word connect us to early histories—when gods shaped people from earth, and people shaped vessels to hold their needs.
It felt honest, grounded, and open to tradition and reinvention.
More
You can explore a selection of my work here, or read recent studio thoughts in the journal.
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