The Hands That Shape Memory: A Spotlight on TARAD Ceramics

If this bowl could speak, it might whisper the scent of rain on clay. It might remember the soft hum of a woman at the wheel, hands steady with knowing. It might say: I was made to hold more than just water. I was made to hold ritual.

At Kinship Station, we don’t just curate objects—we cultivate relationships. And one of our most cherished relationships is with TARAD, a ceramic studio nestled in the hills of Victoria, Australia. The name TARAD comes from the Thai word for “market,” and true to its name, this work feels alive with exchange: of stories, of soil, of soul.

The Woman Behind the Wheel: Meet Tarad Sutabutr

Every TARAD piece begins in the heart and hands of Tarad Sutabutr, the Thai-Australian ceramicist whose practice is rooted in intuition, imperfection, and deep reverence for the everyday sacred. Her work doesn’t shout—it sings, gently. You’ll find no mass-produced perfection here. Each item is one-of-a-kind, hand-thrown, and burnished by a slow, mindful process that honors clay as a living material.

In her own words:

“My work is quiet. It speaks in slow time. It asks you to sit with it.”

That quiet is a kind of medicine—especially in a world that often forgets how to listen.

Three Ways to Meet a TARAD Piece

At Kinship Station, we believe every item is a portal. Here’s how TARAD’s ceramics speak to the many faces of our community:

1. For the Ritualist

Whether it’s a tea bowl for your morning grounding practice or a small dish to cradle incense ash, TARAD’s forms are humble vessels for the sacred. Their weight in your hand reminds you: presence is a practice.

2. For the Aesthetic Seeker

The muted tones, the thumbprints, the slightly off-kilter rims—this is wabi-sabi elegance, raw and refined all at once. These pieces don’t compete for attention. They invite it.

3. For the Cultural Keeper

Tarad’s practice is informed by her Thai heritage and her Australian home. Her work is diasporic—it holds the tension and beauty of between-ness. For those of us who straddle lineages, her ceramics feel like kin.

“When I first held one of TARAD’s bowls, I felt it before I saw it. It was like meeting an old friend who didn’t need to speak. Just presence. That’s what her work gives me—presence.” — Hedi, Owner at Kinship Station

Use It Like This

• Full Moon Pour: Fill a TARAD bowl with rosewater and soak your hands to cleanse energy.

• Ancestor Offering Dish: Place petals, tobacco, or coins inside during ceremony.

• Salt Keeper: Keep sea salt near your stove or altar for purification and grounding.

Your Turn

What’s the last object that made you feel something deep and quiet?
We’d love to hear. Tell us in the comments or tag us on Instagram with your TARAD treasures.

Explore TARAD ceramics in-store or online at Kinship Station
Learn more about her work at www.tarad.com.au