Ceramist Erin Hupp Adds Pendant Lamps To Her Repertoire

Oakland-based ceramist Erin Hupp—known for her bespoke tableware at restaurants such as Michelin-starred Californios and Sons&Daughters—has ventured into the interiors field, with designs available by commission. On the heels of table lamps, mirrors and a wall hook crafted in collaboration with Windy Chien, Hupp is debuting pendant lamps.

Why did you expand into interiors? My decision to broaden my practice with interior design products stemmed from a natural progression in my work. Initially, I focused solely on creating ceramic tableware for restaurants, collaborating closely with chefs to complement their culinary visions. This provided for a seamless transition into working with interior designers. There’s a unique synergy that happens when two creative minds come together to shape a space.

What attracted you to lighting? Similar to ceramic plates at restaurants, lighting is functional art, and it draws you in closer with its warm glow. This duality is what makes my pieces special—they are meant to be lived with and interacted with, not just observed from a distance. Each lamp is custom and handcrafted with a particular interior concept in mind.

What inspires your designs? I draw from various sources—often everyday objects or the modification of past designs. One of my porcelain lamps is inspired by the form of an egg cup. There’s something incredibly charming and sweet about a porcelain vessel used to serve French-style soft-boiled eggs, where the top of the shell is delicately removed like a hat. I wanted to translate that sense of delicacy into lighting.