Rae Dunn

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Rae Dunn
Born1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)
Fresno, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Ceramist, company founder

Rae Dunn (born 1962 or 1963),[1][2] is an American ceramist best known for her eponymous brand of ceramic wares and pottery.

Early life[edit]

Rae Dunn was born in Fresno, California, where she grew up.[3][4] Her brand's about page describes her as a classical pianist and painter.[5] Dunn began taking piano lessons at the age of four.[1] In her youth, Dunn and her siblings were in a band named "The Dunns".[6] She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from her hometown Fresno State in Industrial Design before moving to San Francisco in the 1980s.[4][6]

While in San Francisco, Dunn worked in retail, graphic design, and fashion, and also opened a French bistro in Pacific Heights with her then-fiancé.[4]

Working with clay[edit]

Dunn later found a passion for clay art while working as a waitress in 1994.[4][5] Her waitressing job allowed her free time during the day, which she used to go exploring.[4] Then in her 30s, while walking in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Dunn came across the Sharon Art Studio.[1] The public space offered workshops and classes; Dunn signed up for a clay art class after flipping a coin.[6] Dunn's work is "strongly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi".[1][5] Country Living described Dunn's art style as "simple, cozy, and organic."[1]

In 1995, she began to pursue ceramics full-time and founded her eponymous brand.[4] Her ceramic work was featured in Martha Stewart Living.[1] In 2013, Dunn opened her own studio and gallery.[7]

Brand[edit]

Main article: Rae Dunn (brand)

After deciding to pursue ceramic art as a full-time career, she founded her eponymous brand of ceramic wares in 1995.[4] She later secured a licensing deal with Magenta, Inc. and since 2003, the ceramics manufacturer has mass-produced her line of wares.[4][6][8] The brand gained increased popularity in the 2010s due to a confluence of the "farmhouse chic" trend and rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.[8][9]

The brand's wares are known for featuring simple designs and one- or two-word phrases, like "yum" or "family" emblazoned on them.[2][9][10] These phrases are also labeled with the brand's signature font, a "delicate, unadorned, hand-crafted" typeface.[2][11] White or cream-colored ceramic mugs and containers have been cited by media outlets as among the brand's most popular.[2][12]

Products from the brand have been cited to be considerably coveted, with shoppers of the brand lining up early prior to a store's opening in order to acquire products.[9][13] Dunn's brand has attracted a cult following, with shoppers being nicknamed "Rae Dunners" and "Rae Dunn Women" and labeled as "rabid" and "feral" by media outlets.[1][12][14] Additionally, "a voraciously focused secondary market of resellers, traders, and collectors has grown around the brand."[8] Dunn herself has acknowledged the following behind her brand, referring to it as a "weird phenomenon" that she never intended to cause.[2] She also expressed being sad and upset about resellers, stating "I wish I could sell more of my handmade stuff. But when I do it, I know that people are buying it and reselling it for hundreds of dollars more," adding "I feel like I'm just being used."[2]

Other ventures[edit]

Since launching her brand, Dunn has ventured into writing. She has authored three books.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Dunn is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area,[1] having been based in Berkeley and Emeryville.[7][4] She also has annual residencies in France. Dunn has been cited as "shy", "quiet", and "an introvert" in her personal life.[1][2]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Wilma's World: Good Advice from a Good Dog (2015)
  • France: Inspiration du Jour (2017)
  • In Pursuit of Inspiration: Trust Your Instincts and Make More Art (2019)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Murtaugh, Taysha (August 11, 2017). "Meet Rae Dunn, the Woman Behind Those $4 Mugs Everyone Is Obsessed With". Country Living. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Gulino, Elizabeth (March 18, 2021). "Rae Dunn Didn't Mean To Start A Cult". Refinery29. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Artist Profile: Rae Dunn". Magenta, Inc. July 11, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Le, Anh-Minh (March 14, 2015). "Ceramist Rae Dunn's guide to the simple life". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "About". Rae Dunn. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Moreno, Graciela (March 30, 2019). "ABC30 ORIGINAL: Celebrated potter Rae Dunn talks art, inspiration and growing up in Fresno". KFSN-TV. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Velez, Jessica (January 28, 2013). "Woop! A Talented Local Ceramicist Grabs Martha Stewart's Attention". Refinery29. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Jezer-Morton, Kathryn (June 13, 2022). "Rae Dunn Pottery Shards Will Form the Archaeological Record We Deserve". The Cut. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Gordon, Maggie (February 1, 2018). "Woman on a mission: Hunting the elusive Rae Dunn ceramics in Houston". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  10. ^ Ellis, Sydni (August 16, 2022). "We Spotted the Cutest Rae Dunn-Inspired Decor at Aldi & You Can Get it Delivered Right to Your Door". SheKnows. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Pavia, Jessica L. (July 6, 2022). "8 Best Toaster Brands, Ranked". Tasting Table. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Weekman, Kelsey (June 2, 2021). "College student's parody of Millennial culture spirals out of control: 'They were completely feral'". In the Know. Yahoo!. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  13. ^ Knapp, Mary Frances "Francky" (February 23, 2021). "Why Are the Karens of America So Obsessed With This Home Decor Brand?". Vice. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Coleman, Kali (September 2, 2022). "5 Annoying Things You're Doing at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, Employees Say". Best Life. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
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