Today we’d like to introduce you to Taiyaba Ahmed.
Hi Taiyaba, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a ceramic artist and graphic designer from Pakistan based in Austin, TX. I have always had an eye for creativity and design and a keen interest in everything that falls under art. Creating art is therapeutic for me. Some of my fondest childhood memories are setting up a summer camp for other children in my neighborhood, doing arts and crafts, or carving plaster for hours to make jewelry. Soon after migrating to Chicago from Karachi, Pakistan, in 2009, I entered the darkest phase of my life. I struggled to find my identity in this new country. During that time, to help with the financial struggles, I got a job at a retail store. Months turned into years, and I got sucked into the retail world. I felt miserable and lost but kept going because we needed the money. Although I excelled at my job and moved up to a management role quickly, I felt like I was wasting my life every day that I was there. Deep down, I knew that I was meant to do something more meaningful with my life, something that made me feel alive and connected to myself. I remember sharing with my coworkers that I want to return to creating things. I wanted to create things with my hands; I didn’t know what it was, but what one of my coworkers said stuck with me and gave me hope. They told me, “If it is something you want as badly as you want to breathe, you’ll get it.”
In 2016, after a very traumatic phase, I moved to Austin to start over. Initially, I felt like I had wasted my life, but with time I realized that there is something glorious about embracing my past choices and that nothing ever is wasted. We always learn something from whatever we do. My past has made me more self-aware and conscious of what I want or don’t want.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
After settling in Austin in search of a creative outlet, I stumbled upon pottery in July 2017 and instantly fell in love with it. Very quickly, pottery became my meditation. It started taking up more and more of my time, and within a year, I left my retail job and started doing pottery full-time out of a community studio. I would sign up for a class with a different teacher for every session. I was so eager to learn that I was like a sponge absorbing everyone. I felt like I had to make up for a lost time, but more than that, working with clay truly made me feel alive. During that time, I made dozens of pieces honing my throwing and hand-building skills, but glazing intimidated me. I would stand in front of the test tiles wall, unable to decide what to glaze, so I kept collecting my unglazed pots. I realized I needed to face my fears head-on to progress. I firmly believe that the universe works in mysterious ways and things only happen when the time is right. I heard that a production pottery studio just a mile from my community studio was looking for a glaze technician. The owner had seen the intricacy of my work, and before I knew it, I single-handedly started running the glazing department at a production pottery studio. Here, I learned glaze chemistry and started developing and trying out new glazes and troubleshooting glaze applications for production, ensuring consistency and learning new glazing techniques. On average, I glaze approximately 500 pieces weekly and make glazes for this production studio and a few independent potters in town.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mud Club ATX. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Because of my love for teaching, building a community, and sharing what I have learned so far, in December 2022, I started a pottery club called Mud Club ATX. We specialize in beginner pottery workshops, team outing events, advanced masterclasses, and private parties. Another talented instructor, Jessie Le, teaches these workshops with me. I feel blessed to have her join me on this journey. We have a very precious relationship and a lot of fun while sharing our love for pottery! There is something beautiful within the creative community in Austin that I have never seen anywhere else. Regardless of where they are in the world, creatives have a close-knit community where they love to share their knowledge. One thing that I am super proud of is our personalized dog bowl workshops. They have been a super hit with all the dog lovers in town. Participants get to make a personalized dog bowl for their fur babies during this workshop. This is one of the most fun and popular workshops that we do. We aim to continue hosting similar workshops and making clay more accessible to people. The best way to know about our upcoming workshops is to follow us on Instagram or by signing up for our newsletter.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
Oh, yes! Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic – Creative Living Beyond Fear” is my all-time favorite book. It has helped me tremendously on my creative journey. In addition to that, I listen to many podcasts while working, so one podcast that keeps me inspired is “The Potter’s Cast.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mudclubatx.com
- Instagram: @mudclubatx
