The Dwell 24: Brave Matter

With Bauhaus-inspired sensibilities, Oakland-based designers Christina Zamora and Cathy Lo create ceramic lamps and objects.

Sep 16, 2020 - 01:34

With Bauhaus-inspired sensibilities, Oakland-based designers Christina Zamora and Cathy Lo create ceramic lamps and objects.

Christina Zamora and Cathy Lo, the married founders of Oakland-based Brave Matter, have plenty in common but sometimes struggled to blend their creative ideas. "Learning how to work together to formulate a cohesive voice hasn’t always been easy," says Lo.

Christina Zamora and Cathy Lo in their Oakland, California–based studio

Photo courtesy of Brave matter

Zamora grew up in New Mexico and got her start at Heath Ceramics; Lo was born in Taiwan and built a career in digital experience design. After founding Brave Matter in 2016, they finally found their niche.

Their work ranges from ceramic tabletop objects to lamps with striking forms and glazes, such as the Archaic Modern pendants, which pair a ridged shade with a massive pink salt crystal. "Being able to express an emotional narrative in more than one medium adds dimension to the work," says Zamora.