I am inspired by the forms, textures and patterns that I discover in the natural worls. Light is an integral part of my work. I am interested in how it interacts with objects I create. I explore how light is reflected, absorbed, radiated and experienced. Working in porcelain, most of my pieces are thrown on the potter's wheel and carved while other vessels are cast to achieve translucency. I strive to create work that celbrates both form and function. Maria White is a Mexican American studio potter and independent filmmaker. White was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and also raised in Summerville, South Carolina. White first learned to make pottery while earning her degree in Art from Winthrop University. She continued to focus on ceramics with scholarship and studio assistant opportunities at Penland School of Craft and Haystack Mountain School of Craft, then went on to apprentice with sculptor and inventor, Michael Sherrill. White began her professional ceramics career in Los Angeles where she spent over a decade creating ceramics for celebrated chefs, interior designers and the sets of major motion pictures and television series. Her ceramics have earned the Award of Excellence from the American Craft Council and her pieces have been published and collected internationally. Outside of her ceramic work, White’s independent films have won awards from top international film festivals and she often collaborates with her husband, Matthew Mebane. While living in California, she co-founded the Los Angeles Womens Film Collective to help empower women working across all filmmaking disciplines. White is a survivor of postpartum anxiety and depression and is an advocate for maternal mental health. White founded Mugs for Moms, a non-profit organization that strives to bring artists, healers and advocates together to help raise awareness about perinatal mental health and offers resources and support for moms and their families. White is the mother of two and lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her family.