Lovers of Leisure
Elise Eales' Ceramic Sojourns
Photography by Anna Pihan
We meet Australian ceramic artist Elise Eales of Di Lunedi over the summer, where Anna Pihan joins her on a journey along the Tyrrhenian coast—from Ischia to the Aeolian Islands and on to Venice—as she creates pieces in far-flung locations and exhibits at Venice's Homo Faber Biennial. Later, visiting her at home on the east coast of Australia. With a deep connection to Italy and craftsmanship, Elise embraces a multidisciplinary practice, exploring the possibilities with clay.
“Creating ceramics is a sensory experience, transforming each piece into more than just an object—it becomes a tangible story of time, place, and process.”
Hi Elise! Tell us a bit about yourself...
My name is Elise Eales and I am the founder and creator of Di Lunedi, a ceramics project that I started in 2020, inspired by my travels to Italy and nostalgic Italian aesthetics. I grew up in my father’s pottery studio in South Australia, surrounded by all the tactile and visual stimulation of that working space. As an adult, it felt natural to return to this world of clay and its endless possibilities. I currently split my time between my studio located on a 12 acre property in Northern NSW and Italy where I spend several months of the year working on bespoke projects and taking in all the inspiration for creating new collections.
What was the inspiration behind the name 'Di Lunedi'?
Di Lunedi translates to Of Monday, it is a little nod to how we can create intention into a day. It’s a reminder of simple rituals like using a favourite object any day of the week that gives us pleasure. Each design is about creating a connection to place, an invitation to leisure if you will, that encourages us to slow down and appreciate the details.
How do you spend your leisure time?
Generally it’s when I travel but as I also work on ceramic projects I find it’s increasingly important to prioritise. For me it’s when I’m alone, allowing a space to wash over me and take in all the details. Wandering through streets, visiting quiet art galleries or just sitting in the window watching the world move around me, this is when I feel the most connected to a place and myself.
When at home in Australia I always gravitate to my courtyard. Sitting there with a coffee in the mornings, listening to the birds and surrounded by the garden always recalibrates me and creates more balance in my day.
“Sitting in the courtyard in the morning, listening to the birds and surrounded by the garden always recalibrates me.”
In what way is leisure important for your creativity?
It’s such an integral part of creating. When I have made space and time for leisure I feel stronger in my process. For me it creates more energy and a feeling of expansion that allows me to explore ideas more fully. I’ve always loved having time on my own and sometimes feel like I haven’t fully experienced a place unless I’ve created those moments of space. There’s a different sort of awareness, a clarity in the details that for me feels more real…
Is there a project that was inspired by your leisure time?
Creating ceramics in the places that inspire me always evokes a sense of leisure, and that feeling becomes embedded in each project. Working with clay is a constant lesson in patience and adaptability—each stage, from forming to drying to firing, unfolds in its own time. The sensory experience, the connection to the landscape, and the rhythm of a place all become part of the work, transforming each piece into more than just an object—it becomes a tangible story of time, place, and process. These are the projects that resonate with me the most. The deep connection—to the act of making, to the surroundings, and to the people I encounter—imbues each piece with its own history. It’s this layered experience that gives an object meaning, turning it into something more: a feeling of place that lingers long after the work is finished.
Last year, while staying on the Aeolian Island of Filicudi, I collaborated with Milou Neelen of Hôtel Magique to create a limited edition collection of 10 one-of-a-kind sardine plates. The process was shaped by the challenges and joys of working in far-flung places, where the materials had to be carried onto the island and connections were formed through a shared love of clay.
I stayed in a beautiful traditional aeolian house high on the mountain with spectacular views down to the small port of Filicudi. My days were spent between leisure and making ceramics on the terrace, interspersed with walks along old donkey paths, picking figs on the way and swimming in the Thyrenian sea. Each piece created was an ode to Italian rituals—the simple beauty of gathering, of meals shared under the sun, of objects that hold memories and are cherished across generations.
“Italy is the personification of leisure, it's embedded in the culture and encouraged as a way of life.”
Have you ever taken a leisure trip specifically for the purpose of pursuing a creative endeavour?
Each time I travel to Italy, it's in pursuit of this kind of balance. I love having the opportunity to create in these places that form so much of my inspiration. It has opened a whole other world, one that I wouldn’t necessarily see if I was casually passing through. Even the logistical challenges of travelling while making ceramics create so many beautiful experiences and interactions. Access to studios that feel like I've just stepped into an Aladdin's cave of treasures and the opportunity to learn from masters in their crafts creates endless inspiration that always keeps me evolving.
Sunrise, midday or sunset - which is your favourite and why?
Sunrise, that quiet part of the morning before most people are awake. When I’m in Ischia I like to make a coffee and take my cup to the scoglio (rocks) under the Castello to sit by the sea. There are always a few familiar faces that say good morning and smile. It feels familiar and in some small way a connection to each other—that we are lucky enough to experience a part of the day while the rest of the world is still sleeping…
What’s your favourite leisurely destination and why?
For me it has always been Italy. Even before I had the opportunity to travel there it held a particular fascination. It offers endless inspiration, both in the history and design of the traditional ceramics but also the small details that constantly inform my day to day wanderings. Italy is the personification of leisure, it's embedded in the culture and encouraged as a way of life. Taking part in the evening la passeggiata or lingering over a morning caffè while people watching encourages a spaciousness that I always find inspiring.
Three things you always travel with?
Banding wheel, Di Lunedi hand painted coffee cup and my cashmere wrap.
Dream hotel? What made it special?
Not a hotel, but the apartment I call home in Ischia. Anna Pihan kindly introduced me to it a few years ago and it’s since become a space that is my home and studio while in Italy. Italian antiques and art fill the space with large windows that are perfect for sitting in. I love watching the early morning light coming through the green shutters and listening to the sounds of the street below me as I work. Every time I walk through the door there is a feeling of returning home.
Because I’m always creating while traveling, the ability to stand still in one place, to allow time for inspiration and having the freedom to create is so important. It allows me to balance the time dedicated to creating while still finding leisure to be inspired.
If you could have any superpower while travelling, what would it be?
Weightless luggage. A small bag that somehow fits everything into it, even the fragile items safely and never weighs more than a single kilo.
Most treasured souvenir from travels in your home?
The first time my sister & I traveled to Venice we fell in love with the velvet furlane shoes. Made from velvet it was like discovering a collection of brightly coloured jewels. They were light weight with the soles made from recycled bicycle tires and able to be added to our luggage without too much consideration. Of course we chose multiple pairs in all the most beautiful colors. I still always travel with my original red velvet pair which has taken me on many adventures.
Have you ever travelled to a place that completely exceeded your expectations?
Last year, I had the opportunity to travel to the volcanic island of Stromboli with a client for a beautiful project we were working on. Stromboli is part of the group of Aeolian islands off the coast of Sicily and still has an active volcano. Only a few months before we arrived it had erupted and was still continuing to send small clouds of ash and smoke into the air, always with a low thunderous rumble of warning. Rather than feel threatened by this presence the locals look upon the mountain with affection, there’s a sense of affinity and of reciprocal care. Just as the island shapes their way of life, they in turn care for the land and sea. We were offered a glimpse into a way of life where traditions are preserved not out of nostalgia, but as a living, breathing part of everyday existence. Once they learned that our visit to the island went beyond a simple holiday, we were welcomed into homes to view beautiful collections of ceramics that had been within families for generations. In every way this is what inspires me about ceramics. They have an incredible way of carrying history; they tell stories of the people who made them, the traditions they hold, and the places they belong to.
If you could spend a day with any artist or creative person, who would it be and why?
Probably Picasso during his ceramic studio visits to Vallaruis. Looking at his work reminds me of all the varied possibilities within the medium and how it is often the simplest of gestures that give a piece its distinct personality.
“They say ‘don't judge a book by it's cover’. But I absolutely do! I love a beautiful linen cover or embossed design elements.”
What do books mean to you, what makes you buy them and how do they inspire you creatively?
Books have a way of creating a space you can inhabit, even after you’ve closed the pages. They linger in your mind, subtly shifting how you move through the world, as if casting everything in a different hue. When I travel I always seek out art and history books, especially those that offer a glimpse into the intimacy of studio spaces — the creativity that unfolds in the midst of beautiful chaos. When I look through these pages it transports me back to that destination and there’s always something that you see differently each time. They say ‘don't judge a book by it's cover’ but I absolutely do! I’ve even purchased books purely based on the design of the cover…Thankfully the content is usually just as inspiring but I love the tactility of a beautiful linen cover or embossed design elements. The way a book is made, much like its contents, holds a certain kind of magic.
What does magique mean for you?
Magique is in the details. It’s the moments of leisure with a coffee in hand watching the sun come up or the opening of a kiln firing to see the alchemy of transformed pieces. For me it’s a moment of conversation that sparks countless ideas and a shared feeling of inspiration. I am constantly grateful that I can work in a medium that inspires me and opens up a whole world of possibilities. It brings the most beautiful people into my orbit and always expands my thinking.
What does photography mean for you?
Like a visual language, photography is the most beautiful translation of emotion. It’s a way of capturing all the elements that are a part of the making process of ceramics. Not just the physical end result but the moment and feeling that inspired it. It’s such a vital part of telling the story particularly in the work I create when in Italy.
Shop Elise's Favorites
