“I have always been fascinated by the Hindu and Buddhist symbolism of the ‘mandala’, which represents wholeness: a cosmic diagram organised around a unifying centre. I view each functional work of art as a reminder of my relation to infinity.”
Art of being ceramics
Lara has become known for her handmade stoneware ceramics. Each vessel is either handmade on the wheel, or built using coiling techniques, then painted and skilfully carved before firing and glazing. She doesn't use a stencil and every design is a spontaneous creation. As such, each piece is unique with no two the same. Lara draws many parallels between the practices of yoga, meditation and working with clay – click here to read more.
All work is 100% food-safe and dishwasher friendly, however Lara recommends washing by hand to protect the intricate designs.
If you would like to purchase a gift for yourself or someone else, Lara has a selection of bowls ready for sale, however she also works by commission. Prices range from $80 - $300 depending on size, detail and design. CLICK HERE to purchase from her ready-made collection, or fill out the form below for a unique commission.
some Past Commissions
“Mum and I first fell in love with Lara’s work while practising yoga at our studio in Sydney where she had adorned the wall with one of her whimsical masterpieces. We both followed her instagram journey and often marvelled together at the beauty of her creations.
Mum had been sick for so long it was almost impossible to remember a time when cancer wasn’t another member of our family, but her strength was something extraordinary and she never let it stop her from living every day to its fullest. In March this year she began to lose her battle, and right before she passed away she whispered to me where I could find a special gift she had been saving for my birthday that was coming up in a few days time, which she sadly wasn’t going to make. The night she died I found the most precious ceramic mandala bowl hidden at the top of her wardrobe waiting for me. Beautifully designed and handmade by Lara.
Heartbroken, I reached out to Lara to tell her the story of how the bowl had found its way to me, and as I was making my way back through the conversation history I discovered that not only had she been speaking with Lara but also with Benny as he was due in Sydney a few weeks later with his incredible and unique sound bed. Mum was a huge fan of sound meditation and I was honoured when Benny kindly found space for me to be a part of his visit. It was an incredibly moving and healing experience, especially in those first few tender weeks without her.
It seemed that the universe had interwoven our lives for a reason, and the connection with mum was so strong that I reached out to Lara again to design a tattoo to honour my Mums life and my relationship with her - a Mandala. A representation of the universe, of life and our relation to the infinite, a world that extends beyond our bodies and minds.
There could be no more perfect way to describe my relationship with her. She was my universe and the one who gave me life. Now a beautiful reminder of her comes with me everywhere, not only in my heart but on my skin for everyone to see.”
~ Kate Harradence
View the clip below to see Lara in action. Video made and produced by Business Insider.
“The mandala is an archetypal image whose occurrence is attested throughout the ages. It signifies the wholeness of the Self.
This circular image represents the wholeness of the psychic ground or,
to put it in mythic terms, the divinity incarnate in man.”