On the island of Molokaʻi, a self-taught ceramic artist, Arabella Ark, creates large-scale, architectural, hand-built ceramic forms that invoke feelings of mystery and antiquity.
“Ceramics came into my life through a backdoor while I was an actress, theatre director, mother, and writer. It allowed me to add creative beauty and inspiration to any setting while representing communion and connection through each piece. I build mystical temples and tea houses in search of a way to symbolize the soul’s journey beyond time and space. Evocative of Japanese architecture, I often fire in Japanese raku tradition. My pieces are constructed from rolled slabs of porcelain clay or paper-clay fiber.
I want each vessel to act as a metaphor for the empty space inside, the center of longing and communion, much as a cathedral acts as a vessel for transmittal of prayer. My ceramics have been exhibited in international juried shows for the past fifty years. In 1995, I received the Artists of Hawaiʻi Alfred Pries Memorial Award for Achievement in the Arts. I also served as a ceramics instructor at Honolulu Museum for almost fifteen years.”
Discover Arabella’s ceramic creations here or at Maui Hands. Learn more about her public art projects on Maui Crafts Guild.
This Artist Spotlight was featured in the Akamai Recap newsletter on July 30, 2025. Get the latest on creative talent within your island communities by subscribing to the Akamai Recap here.
