Gracida is the ceramic brand of Paola Gracida, a Mexican American ceramic artist based in Chicago, Illinois. Her work bridges contemporary ceramic sculpture and functional ceramics, creating pieces that blur the line between collectible art and everyday objects. Known for her ceramic sculptures, precise pattern work, and sculptural forms that integrate functional elements, Paola creates handmade ceramic pieces that feel both expressive and refined.
Born in 1979 in Mexico City, Paola earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and later completed a Master of Fine Arts at Designhögskolan at Umeå University in Sweden. Her background in design informs her approach to ceramics, blending craft, structure, and bold visual detail.
Paola has exhibited work at the South Haven Center for the Arts and has served as a guest teacher at the Krasl Art Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan. She has also participated as an independent artist in The Other Art Fair in Chicago and Dallas, presenting her ceramic art to collectors and design-minded audiences.
Today, Paola continues to develop Gracida ceramics from her studio in Chicago, creating ceramic sculptures and functional art objects rooted in heritage, design discipline, and contemporary form.