Q&A with Sha Ganjali — Sculptor, Ceramic Artist & Workshop Guide at ĀRĀ Design

Get to know the artist behind ĀRĀ Design — from her sculptural approach to clay to what you can expect in one of her West Auckland pottery and hand-building workshops.

🟤 Q: What draws you to working with clay?

A: Clay allows for a kind of honesty I can’t express through any other medium. There’s a rawness and immediacy to it — it responds to everything: mood, energy, even hesitation. It doesn’t ask for perfection, just presence. That makes it both grounding and revealing, which is why I’m drawn to sculptural forms rather than functional pottery.

🟤 Q: How are your classes different from traditional pottery workshops?

A: I don’t focus on the wheel or repetitive forms. My workshops are more about hand-building and sculptural techniques — coiling, pinching, slab-building — all done in a relaxed, organic way. I encourage participants to follow their intuition, not a strict plan. It’s not about “making it right” but about connecting with the material and letting it unfold.

🟤 Q: Who are your clay classes for?

A: Anyone! I have complete beginners, creatives revisiting clay after years away, and artists who want to explore more organic sculptural techniques. Whether it’s your first time exploring clay, or you're looking for a therapeutic, creative outlet, you’re welcome. The classes are held in a peaceful rural setting in West Auckland, so the environment supports that slow, intentional pace.

🟤 Q: What kinds of pieces do people make in your workshops?

A: That really depends on the person. Some create abstract sculptural forms, others make vessels or textured objects. It’s not about the end product — it’s about the process, the feeling in your hands, the quiet conversation between you and the clay. That’s why no two pieces ever look the same.

🟤 Q: How can people buy your ceramic work?

A: I regularly update the Shop section of my website with available sculptural pieces. If you're interested in a particular work you’ve seen on Instagram, feel free to get in touch. I also work with a few galleries in New Zealand and occasionally make work to commission.

🟤 Q: Do your sculptures carry a specific message or theme?

A: My work often explores themes of resistance, surrender, memory, and form. I don’t usually begin with a concept — the clay reveals it as I work. I’m especially drawn to the in-between states: breaking and becoming, collapsing and rising. A lot of my pieces live in that space.

🟤 Q: Where can people join your sculpting and pottery classes?

A: All the upcoming classes are listed on the Workshops page. I host them in West Auckland, surrounded by bush and open space — it’s a quiet spot where people can really sink into the work. No experience is needed, just curiosity.