| Rae Dunn | |
| Birth Place: | Fresno, California, United States |
| Occupation: | Ceramist, company founder |
Rae Dunn (born 1962 or 1963),[1] is an American ceramist best known for her eponymous brand of ceramic wares and pottery.
Rae Dunn was born in Fresno, California, where she grew up.[2] Her brand's about page describes her as a classical pianist and painter.[3] Dunn began taking piano lessons at the age of four. In her youth, Dunn and her siblings were in a band named "The Dunns". She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from her hometown Fresno State in Industrial Design before moving to San Francisco in the 1980s.[4]
While in San Francisco, Dunn worked in retail, graphic design, and fashion, and also opened a French bistro in Pacific Heights with her then-fiancé.[4]
Dunn later found a passion for clay art while working as a waitress in 1994.[4] [3] Her waitressing job allowed her free time during the day, which she used to go exploring.[4] Then in her 30s, while walking in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, Dunn came across the Sharon Art Studio. The public space offered workshops and classes; Dunn signed up for a clay art class after flipping a coin. Dunn's work is "strongly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi".[3] Country Living described Dunn's art style as "simple, cozy, and organic."
In 1995, she began to pursue ceramics full-time and founded her eponymous brand.[4] Her ceramic work was featured in Martha Stewart Living. In 2013, Dunn opened her own studio and gallery.[5]
See main article: Rae Dunn (brand). After deciding to pursue ceramic art as a full-time career, she founded her eponymous brand of ceramic wares in 1995.[4] She later secured a licensing deal with Magenta, Inc. and since 2003, the ceramics manufacturer has mass-produced her line of wares.[4] [6] [7] The brand gained increased popularity in the 2010s due to a confluence of the "farmhouse chic" trend and rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.[7] [8]
The brand's wares are known for featuring simple designs and one- or two-word phrases, like "yum" or "family" emblazoned on them.[1] [8] [9] These phrases are also labeled with the brand's signature font, a "delicate, unadorned, hand-crafted" typeface.[1] [10] White or cream-colored ceramic mugs and containers have been cited by media outlets as among the brand's most popular.[1] [11]
Products from the brand have been cited to be considerably coveted, with shoppers of the brand lining up early prior to a store's opening in order to acquire products.[8] [12] Dunn's brand has attracted a cult following, with shoppers being nicknamed "Rae Dunners" and "Rae Dunn Women" and labeled as "rabid" and "feral" by media outlets.[13] [11] [14] Additionally, "a voraciously focused secondary market of resellers, traders, and collectors has grown around the brand."[7] Dunn herself has acknowledged the following behind her brand, referring to it as a "weird phenomenon" that she never intended to cause.[1] She also expressed being sad and upset about resellers, stating "I wish I could sell more of my handmade stuff. But when I do it, I know that people are buying it and reselling it for hundreds of dollars more," adding "I feel like I'm just being used."[1]
Since launching her brand, Dunn has ventured into writing. She has authored three books.[13]
Dunn is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area,[13] having been based in Berkeley and Emeryville.[5] [4] She also has annual residencies in France. Dunn has been cited as "shy", "quiet", and "an introvert" in her personal life.[13] [1]