Rae Dunn and her dog, Wilma, in her studio
Artist Profile: Rae Dunn
Who Is Rae Dunn?
Our steadfast partner Rae Dunn is an artist and designer who creates thoughtfully crafted and innately beautiful pieces designed to enhance your day. Rae Dunn décor is inspired by Rae’s appreciation for the simple things in life, with unique home accessories that blend in seamlessly with today’s cozy contemporary home.
Rae mined her heritage to inspire a new curated homestead collection of everyday objects in a range of authentic materials. We visited Rae's studio to hear more about the inspiration behind the newest line. Here, we chat with Rae about her background and her inspirations, and get a peek at her Heritage line.
MAGENTA: Describe where you grew up and how you got connected with art.
RAE DUNN: “I grew up in Fresno, California with four siblings, two parents, and always at least one dog.
I believe that we are ALL born as artists with natural instincts to create. I just never stopped!
I was also lucky enough to have parents who nurtured our creativity from the very beginning. Along with starting piano lessons at age four, our mother took us on weekly trips to the hobby shop where we could pick out any project to pursue.
I was always doing a wide variety of making. From model airplanes, paint by numbers, shrinky dinks, macramé, an easy bake oven, etc. I think that being so deeply immersed in music and art as a child played a huge role in my love and need for creative expression as an adult.”
MAGENTA: What made you fall in love with clay and ceramics?
RAE DUNN: “I started ceramics purely by chance. While riding my bike in Golden Gate Park, I stumbled across a beautiful building that, to me, looked like a castle. This magical building turned out to be a public community art center. I just wanted to be in the building somehow so I randomly signed up for a class. The only two classes that fit my schedule were stained glass and ceramics, neither of which I had ever done or had even thought about."
"I flipped a coin to decide which class to take and it landed on ceramics. The minute I touched clay, I fell madly in love with it and it slowly started taking over my life, until one day it became my life. I love the tactile nature of ceramics. I love that you can make something out of a lump of dirt. I love being able to create something with my hands that is so essential and useful in our everyday life.”
MAGENTA: Can you tell us about your art background?
RAE DUNN: “I didn’t go to art school and have never had any real art classes. I believe that because I was truly uninformed, it allowed me to make and break my own rules. Because I was allowed so much creative freedom as a child, it made me think that anything was possible and I always knew that I would have some sort of creative career. I was always very much into handwriting, fonts, and words. Originally, I thought I wanted to be a graphic designer, but as I began doing that, everything started shifting towards technology and I quickly lost interest. I am a self-diagnosed Luddite”
MAGENTA: How do you describe your work?
Rae Dunn: “My work is clean, simple, quiet, accessible, utilitarian, and imperfect.”
MAGENTA: What has been most rewarding about your work?
RAE DUNN: “My work seems to bring joy to a lot of people. I love hearing directly from my customers about how my work has changed their life, helped them somehow, or has brought them a new community of friends.”
MAGENTA: Where can you be found when you’re not working?
RAE DUNN: “Hiking in the woods, traveling to a new place, or in a hot and stinky Bikram yoga class.”
FILL IN THE BLANK
MAGENTA: If I wasn’t an artist I’d be ?
RAE DUNN: A puppy petter.
MAGENTA: A great day begins with ?
RAE DUNN: A good previous night of sleep.
MAGENTA: I never leave home without ?
RAE DUNN: A sketchbook and a pen or mechanical pencil.
MAGENTA: The next place I want to travel is ?
RAE DUNN: Cambodia.
MAGENTA: My dream dinner party guests include ?
RAE DUNN: Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, Gregory Peck (for a little eye candy), Pablo Picasso and Lump (his dog), my four grandparents, Freda Kahlo, Kelly Rippa, Anaïs Nin.
The Heritage Collection by Rae Dunn
"I’m very excited about my new Heritage line. I value objects that have a history and that can tell a story. I feel that this line truly represents my own personal lifestyle; which is simple, utilitarian, and straightforward." - Rae Dunn
Write It Down
ARTIST JOURNALS & GRAPHIC PENCILS, PENS
"One of my favorite new items from this collection is the leather journal. I am a notetaker, a sketcher, and an observer who is never without a notebook on hand. I love that these are refillable and that the leather will just keep getting better and better with age." - Rae Dunn
Time for Textiles
TEA TOWELS, COASTERS, NAPKINS, GIFT BAGS AND AN APRON.
Where to Buy Rae Dunn
Buy hand-crafted Rae Dunn products at Magenta, including Rae Dunn mugs and the fan-favorite Rae Dunn canister. Follow the link to find your favorite pieces!
I am waiting for a Neice, Uncle, brother and sister mugs!!!
I love your pottery!!! I just found a cup that I absolutely LOVE and was wondering if you have or was thinking of doing more with its genre. The cup of which I speak is “Toil and Trouble”. Do you have any more cups that say “eye of newt” or anything else that the 3 witches say in the play that must not be named? I think it would be a hoot if you came out with more Shakespearean mugs for Halloween. Imagine drinking out of a mug that said " wool of bat" or “tongue of dog” with the 3 witches surrounding a cauldron on the other side.
Your work is whimsical AND utilitarian. My mom and I spend hours looking for your work. It is one of our bonds. We collect your imperfect perfection! I loved your bio. A true artist needs no formal training and you are LIVING PROOF. Your work brings a form of art to everyone who encounters it. It’s staggering how many fans you have. When the museums start showcasing your pieces, I will bequeath my enormous collection! You bring true joy! Much Love ❤️
I am so in love with your ceramics I just cannot get enough of them please please keep making them💕
Rae sparks a ray of creativity in my soul, whether I’m drinking coffee from my RD collection of stainless steel tumblers (everyday), or writing in my RD journals, I feel inspired. My 4 fur babies eat and drink from RD bowls, there’s almost no corner of my house untouched. Even my teenagers are always on the lookout for new RD items. It’s a family thing! Sending love from Texas!
Rae,I met one of my best friends, Sheila Quinn while collecting Rae Dunn. It has only been 2 years since I met her, but she is very special to me and those that come across her. In September 2019 she was told she was in remission from triple negative breast cancer. All of us close to her were elastic, however on 10/02 which was literally her 3 year anniversary, Sheila went to the Emergency room for chest pains and masses were found in her lungs. After scans and tests, her cancer has metastasized to her lungs, liver, bones, lymph nodes and breasts. She is now on hospice and has a terminal diagnoses.
She is such a caring and kind soul and even collected and donated survivor mugs to her oncologist recently. The Rae community around here regardless of likes, has come together to help her fulfill her iso, but I want to go beyond that. I was very fortunate to see many in this community to ban together in support for her, that normally would not have. I am humbling asking for something hand written from you Rae. Her favorite saying, is “it is the little things” or when I find something on her ISO " I am so excited" !
I would love if you could take a couple of minutes out of your day to send her something personal.
Thank you!!!!
Sheila Quinn1747 Brandon Ave.Petersburg, VA 23805
I love the simplistic, imperfect beauty of your stem print ware. I so admire your talent. I started collecting about 2 years ago Would love to see an upright napkin holder like the Christmas one you did but for everyday use. I’m so excited to get the new salt and pepper with handles.
Where do I start. I was online one day and I spotted one of your bird house clocks, it filled my heart with happiness because of it’s simplistic and heartfelt design, from there I was hooked and now I have many pieces on display in my home. I also love giving them as gifts because you can give it and without ever saying a word, the person knows instantly in one or a few words, that the gift was from my heart. Rae Dunn’s pottery is an inspiration to me, to try and find simplicity and meaning in my life in few words! Thank you Rae Dunn for beautiful yet simple everyday pottery. Sincerely, a loyal follower. Donna Kilbert PS Love Wilma. There is nothing better in life than to have a “furry” companion by your side!🐾
My daughter just became a collector. I had purchased “Military Dad” for my hubby but didn’t have one for me. So we hit the ground “dunning”! So much fun! So in our travels my Emma really wanted a the Tea Pot. Wouldn’t u know some nice lady placed the exact piece she wanted in her cart and disappeared. My daughter calls her an angel. How did she know? She just felt the pure energy! Really neat! I’m in 100%. What a great feeling to help someone and put a big smile on their face
Love this! You are a wonderful person Rae Dunn :). I have a small (large) collection of your pottery, it makes me happy. We don’t get much in our small city in Canada but I try (I have bought some items way above retail :( ). Love it all!
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