My name is Leah Harvell (she/her) and I started creating with ceramics in 2003. I started working with clay consistently as Queen Amethyst Ceramics in April 2020.

The name “Queen Amethyst” comes from a journey of self-love and expression, and my love of the color purple. I am especially fond of the crystal amethyst and all it stands for. It is a stone associated with grounding, calmness, and healing. Working with ceramics provides all of that for me, and I hope some of that energy carries over to those that experience my art.

I make small batch ceramic creations ranging from pottery, sculpture, and many things in between. I create whatever I would like to see and feel in clay. I experiment with different elements of the ceramic process, whether it be the clay itself or the glaze that covers it.

I’m based in Delaware County, PA, outside of Philadelphia. I currently create in my apartment, and I also enjoy making in my van! I had my start in life and clay as a Pittsburgh native. I also give credit to my college experience in Philly for furthering my clay experience!

Ever since I started ceramics, I have used this medium to express and navigate my emotions and interests.

I was also taught under the philosophy of wabi-sabi. This view believes in finding beauty in the world around us, including the imperfections.

While I make functional work, the main purpose is to capture a memory and give it a new form.

The glazes I choose, the clay I build with, and the details I add all bring forth a story I want to tell. I transform the elements in a way that finds the beauty in the moment. I find the positive even in the negative.