OUR STORY

My name is Brooke Schneider, the founder of Brooke Schneider Ceramics. I am originally from Greenville, South Carolina but currently reside and work between Brooklyn, New York, and Greenville, South Carolina, with my husband, Luke and our dog, Dizzy. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California in 2018 and my Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (sculpture) from New York University in 2026.

In 2021, I launched my small batch functional ceramics business from my childhood home in Greenville, South Carolina. I built my business across multiple states, as I relocated from Greenville to Nashville, Tennessee, and eventually to New York City. My ceramic tableware is inspired by Southern culture and the landscapes of South Carolina. My glazes and patterns reference the beauty of blushing dogwoods, creamy-white magnolias, the iron-rich soil, and the deep blue of our historic indigo. All of my ceramic ware is hand-built or thrown on the potter’s wheel in my studios in Greenville and Brooklyn.

South Carolina has a rich history of ceramics, dating back thousands of years. The history of Catawba craftspeople, enslaved potters, stoneware manufacturers and folk potters in South Carolina shaped the culture of the state that I deeply love. In the past, ceramics shaped daily life, influencing how food and goods were made, stored and served. Ceramic objects were integral to the lives of all South Carolinians and people across the South. There is a deep appreciation for the history of the craft and the legacy of objects that will be passed down through generations.  

I grew up in a family of five in the house that my mom grew up in. We spent many hours around the dinner table, sharing meaningful meals and great stories. Every shared meal and memory is accompanied by the dinnerware that we used- Franciscan Apple Dinnerware that belonged to my grandmother, the everyday Mikasa Magnolia dinnerware that parents got from Belk when they were married in 1984, Lennox Christmas China with its delicate holly pattern, reserved for Christmas dinners, and the face jugs that lined the walls of the restaurants we frequented. Now, my husband and I create our family memories on the handmade dinnerware that I make.

Enjoying a meal or drink is the best way to build community, show hospitality, build trust, and strengthen relationships. As I’ve moved across the United States and traveled to other countries, I have found that sitting down at the table to eat and drink is the greatest way to get to know someone and build bridges between cultures, traditions, politics, and religions.

I hope that my ceramic ware can play a role in these types of stories.