Umber Darilek

Photos by Umber Darilek.

Hi, I’m Umber. I am a San Antonio based practitioner of pottery. Or a potter. It feels like practice. Pottery is my sanity practice, the place where I can explore my interaction with the earth.. I graduated with a BFA from the University of North Texas a while back, and was lucky enough to take a class with Elmer Taylor. Shortly after that, I taught pottery at the French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in New York, and decided clay just wasn’t for me. It was too hard. So I left it and went back to my camera. I was a photographer for years, but never really loved it. I did a job once in exchange for a kiln, because I wanted my kids to get into clay. But they didn’t get into it and I discovered something I had been looking for my whole life. I can’t describe what clay does for me. I am enthralled and comforted and sustained by it. Aside from my family and my dog, I’ve never loved anything more. Clay keeps me centered. I don’t update this website often, so please follow me on Instagram @theumberstudio for videos of the pottery process and new work. I sell my work at shows and through Instagram. Thank you for stopping by!