Frequently Asked Questions

Anastasia Babenko is a ceramic artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating one-of-a-kind hand-built sculptural ceramic vessels, vases, wall sculptures, and trays from her studio in San Jose, California. Her work was featured at the 2026 San Francisco Decorator Showcase in Peruri Design Company's living room, with coverage in Architectural Digest, LUXE Interiors + Design, and California Home + Design — and one installation photograph appeared on the cover of the Wall Street Journal.

Sculptural ceramics that live between function and fine art: vases and vessels, free-standing sculptures, wall sculptures, and sculptural trays and centerpieces. The work moves between two threads. One is the natural world — coral grown layer by layer, shells shaped under pressure, stone worn by water. The other is deeply personal: my ongoing She and Woman series explore womanhood through clay — soft, full, grounded forms that honor the body as something living and whole. Both are translated into heavily textured stoneware in warm earth tones and deep blacks.

Slowly, and entirely by hand. I build each form from coils and slabs of mid and high-fire stoneware — never from a mold — then let it dry over weeks before two firings, the final one to cone 6 in an electric kiln. The interior is usually glazed; the exterior stays raw or matte, so the surface keeps every mark of its making. Clay resists being rushed, and that resistance is part of what you see in the finished piece.

Yes — one of one, always. I don't make editions or duplicates, and even sisters within a series (the Callas, the Shells) grow into different forms, proportions, and surfaces. I sign each piece at the bottom.

In San Jose, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Pieces ship to collectors across the United States, and local pickup is available by appointment.

Directly on this website — browse all available works, or by category: vases, sculptures, wall sculptures, and trays. Selected pieces are also available in my Etsy shop.

Currently from about $220 to $1,500. Smaller vessels sit at the lower end; large statement vases, sculptures, and wall pieces at the upper. Every product page shows its price — nothing is "price on request." Commissions are quoted individually once I know the scope.

Not that exact piece — once a work sells, it's gone, and I never remake it. What I can do is build a new piece that answers to the one you loved: a sibling, not a copy, with its own life. Several of my favorite works started exactly this way. Tell me which piece caught you and we'll go from there.

Every effort is made to represent each piece accurately, and dimensions are listed on every product page. Because these are hand-built works with natural clay finishes, surfaces can read slightly differently depending on your light — in the morning a textured exterior throws different shadows than it does at dusk, and that's part of what makes the work feel alive. If you want more photos or a short video of a specific piece before deciding, just email me.

Pieces with a glazed interior are water-safe and hold fresh or dried arrangements. Unless noted on the product page, the work is not intended for food service or dishwasher use — these are sculptural art objects first.

In-stock pieces ship within 2–3 business days of payment. Each piece is individually wrapped for safe delivery; shipping is calculated by weight ($15 for items up to 13 lb, $25 for 14–30 lb, $65 for over 30 lb). Local pickup is available by appointment at my San Jose studio. Full details on the Shipping and Returns page.

International shipping is available on request — email me before purchasing so we can arrange appropriate packing, insurance, and customs handling for your destination. Parcels outside the US may be subject to customs fees according to your country's regulations.

Notify me within 7 days of delivery with a photo of the damage, and I will replace the piece or issue a full refund. Ceramic art is packed carefully, but if something goes wrong in transit, you are covered.

Yes — if you're not completely happy, contact me within 10 days of delivery. Once the piece is received back and inspected, the purchase price (excluding original shipping) is refunded to your original payment method. Return shipping is the buyer's responsibility. Details on the Shipping and Returns page.

Hand wash only, with mild soap and a soft cloth — no dishwashers, abrasive scrubbers, or sudden temperature changes. For textured surfaces, a dry soft brush or microfiber cloth is best for dusting. Wall sculptures should be dry-dusted only and kept indoors.

Directly — I work with designers on sourcing available pieces and on custom commissions scaled to the project. Email AnastasiaBabenkoArt@gmail.com with your firm name and the project, and I can share additional photos, dimensions, and high-resolution imagery for client presentations. I work with designers across the Bay Area and ship to projects nationally.

Yes — some of my best work has been composed, not just made. For the 2026 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, the installation was built as a single thought across a living room: a large white vase on the mantel, Shell vessels on the console, a hand-formed tray on the coffee table. For a project needing multiple works, we plan the group around the room itself — heights, surfaces, sight lines — and I build each piece by hand to hold its own while belonging to the whole.

In-stock pieces ship within 2–3 business days, so available work can meet nearly any timeline. For commissions, share your installation date early in the inquiry — typical lead time is 6–10 weeks, and I'll tell you honestly whether the timeline is realistic before we start.

Yes — vessels, wall sculptures, and multi-piece groupings for hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality spaces. Larger scale and multiple placements mean these conversations should start early in the project, ideally at design development. Reach out via the Commissions page.

Send an inquiry through the Commissions page or email AnastasiaBabenkoArt@gmail.com. Describe what you're imagining — size, the space it's for, palette, anything visual that's guiding you. I'll come back with whether it's feasible, what it would cost, and when it could be ready. Commissions are open to private collectors, interior designers, and hospitality clients.

Most commissions are ready in 6–10 weeks. The timeline is set by the material as much as by my schedule: hand-building takes days, drying can't be hurried without cracking, and every piece goes through two firings. Larger works and multi-piece projects run longer. If there's a date attached, say so in your first message.

Whatever you have — a short email asking "is this possible?" is a perfectly good start. The details that help most: rough size, where the piece will live, photos of the space or of works of mine you're drawn to, your timeline, and a budget range if you have one.