Meditation in Motion

Carmen began studying ceramics in 2016 when she first moved into the Ghost Ship warehouse. After the fire, she used it as a form of art therapy and meditation to recover from PTSD. Her work is inspired by her life aboard her sailboat. Her choice of clay and glaze reflects her love of the sea, where land meets water. Carmen believes that the beauty of pottery is in the imperfections, the subtle ways that harmony is achieved without perfect symmetry. Carmen currently teaches ceramics at Alameda Pots in addition to producing her own work.

Gravitating towards the dark and whimsical, Carmen crafts potion bottles that she sells at local art markets.

For the 2024 Burning Man Art Installation Naga & The Captainess, Carmen designed and created a treasure chest decorated with custom tiles and filled it with a dozen golden eggs. The treasure chest debuted at Burning Man 2024 as part of the installation, and was exhibited at Decompression 2024, the Edwardian Ball in San Francisco in 2025, and Unscruz 2025 in Santa Cruz.