Michelle Sakai-Hart is an AAPI ceramicist located in Santa Barbara, CA where she lives with her husband (Andrew), son (Caleb), and golden retriever (Katsu).
Since Michelle started her business in 2019, she has been a ceramics instructor, studio manager, and pottery studio technician in the Bay Area and Los Angeles for a number of studios including Good Dirt LA and Community School of Music and Art. Her formal background is in science education, where she taught as a classroom science teacher, advisor, and outdoor educator. She received her Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University and her Bachelor of Science in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara.
Michelle is currently taking a creative break from her business as of July 2026 and soaking up the journey of being a mom.
You can currently shop Michelle’s ceramics, artwork, and products at Giant Robot Store in Los Angeles at Moment SJ Made Japantown in San Jose.
Michelle started her business in 2019, a little less than a year after taking her first pottery class. Her specialty is in creating functional wheel thrown ceramics that she hand paints and designs using a variety of colorful and bright underglazes and mid-fire glazes. She loves to create cute and happy designs and draws inspiration from her love of animation and by her memories of growing up by the beach. Although Michelle’s primary focus is pottery, she has also offered other products in line with her ceramics designs, such as apparel, stickers, and pins. Additionally, Michelle also creates paintings for various group shows for Giant Robot Store.
In 2024, Michelle’s ceramics were part of the Moment Marketplace Pop-Up at the Google Visitor Experience. She has participated in many markets, including the Kokoro Craft Show at the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles, Giant Robot Store Konbinis, and many SJ Made events.
Michelle has proudly partnered with other BIPOC, AAPI, or women owned businesses through wholesale, consignment, and special projects. You can currently find Michelle’s ceramics and goodies in San Jose at Moment by SJ Made and Giant Robot Store in Los Angeles, California
art shows
2026: Muddy Madness Juried Exhibit at Maker House
2024, 2026: Kiln: Earthenware and Beyond at GR2 Art Gallery
2023-2026: Giant Robot Store Group Shows
2021-2023: Small Wonders Art Show at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
2021-2023: Wonder Pets Art Show at Leanna Lin’s Wonderland
grants/scholarships awarded
May 2022 | Head West Marketplace: No Cost Community Booth Recipient
April 2020 | Mission Asset Fund: LA Creative Professionals Relief Fund Recipient
collaborations
Creaminal Ice Cream Bowls (2023)
Hashimoto Nursery Planters (2021)
Jitter Coffee Tumblers (2021)
features in other publications
May 2024 | Sticker Giant | Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
January 2024 | ShoutOut LA | Meet Michelle Sakai-Hart | Ceramics Artists
November 2023 | Golden Guide | Golden Guides’s First Annual AAPI Gift Guide
March 2023 | Redfin Blog | Decorating with Pottery: Elevating Your Space with Handcrafted Pieces
August 2021 | Community School of Music and Arts | Get to know Michelle Sakai-Hart
May 2021 | We Said Go Travel | Handmade Happiness at Hashimoto Nursery with Michelle Sakai-Hart
March 2021 | Amp Jar | Discover Small Gift Guide
August 2020 | VoyageLA | Hidden Gems: Local Businesses and Creatives You Should Know in West LA
May 2020 | City of Santa Monica | 18 (and counting) Places to Buy Face Masks, Hand Sanitizer, and Personal Protective Equipment in Santa Monica
April 2020 | Dear Handmade Life | DIY Fabric Face Masks
