For Sean VanderVliet of Fenway Clayworks, beautiful design is meant to be lived with—and enjoyed for years to come. After nearly 15 years of working with clay as a hobby and in school, Sean founded Fenway in 2017, turning a longtime passion into a full-time practice rooted in thoughtful, functional ceramics made for everyday life.
Drawing inspiration from mid-century forms, unexpected color, texture, and even the occasional baseball uniform, Fenway’s work finds a playful balance between the familiar and the unexpected. It’s a philosophy we’ve loved bringing into our own lighting and kitchenware collection together.
In our latest Meet the Maker, we’re sitting down with Sean to talk about the evolution of his craft, the collaborative spirit behind the Fenway studio, what inspires him now, and the details that make each piece distinctly his own.
SHOP THE FENWAY x SAFFRON + POE COLLECTION
Your Story
How did your journey with ceramics begin, and what eventually led you to create Fenway Clayworks?
After nearly 15 years of throwing pottery as a hobby and in school, in 2017 Sean VanderVliet founded Fenway Clayworks and made the jump to become a full time ceramic artist. The goal of Fenway has been the same since the beginning— to make beautiful, functional ceramics worthy of a place in one's home; ceramics that people can enjoy over time and pass on for generations to come.
How would you describe the Fenway Clayworks aesthetic and what makes your work distinctly yours?
The core of Fenway’s aesthetic is Mid-Century Modern designs with a fun twist. We harken back to the mid 50s-60s through clean lines and mixed materials, and then integrate colorful lines, colorblocking, or texture to add interest. We believe that tried and true forms can lend themselves to boundless creativity.
Process & Inspiration
Can you walk us through the process of bringing one of your pieces from an initial idea to its finished form?
We are lucky enough to have incredibly skilled craftspeople on our team. With Willy’s ability to throw large (recently a 90 pound table base!), Gus’s ability to turn any woodworking vision into a functional piece, and Peter’s ability to render any idea into a 3D representation, we have it all. Typically, we prototype a variety of pieces, tweaking along the way. Then, we refine, refine, refine. Some come easier than others, but once greenlit, we go for it.
Where do you find yourself looking for inspiration most often?
We look in many places for inspiration. From glassblowers, to Mid-Century Modern legends, to baseball uniforms, we’re open to anything.
Fenway Clayworks × Saffron + Poe
What do you enjoy most about the collaborative process and seeing your ceramics translated into lighting?
The details. With Saffron + Poe, we were able to take our classic look and put a S+P spin on it. We used a twisted cord, tighter texture lines, and stuck with a neutral pallet. It’s always fun for us to reimagine our work with new designers.
Our Lucca Olive Oil Bottle is now a Saffron + Poe bestseller! What’s your personal favorite from our collaboration?
We love all the S +P pieces, but the Otsuni Lamp is a hit - short ‘n sweet (and goes with any space).
Ostuni Lamp, Fenway x Saffron + Poe
Studio & Beyond
What does a typical day in the Fenway Clayworks studio look like?
Everyday is a little different, but you can count on a few things; Willy throwing lamps, Gus turning wooden bases and necks, Jessie painting the stripes, Neelan assembling lamps, Peter designing new products, Sean glazing the next batch, and Nala being cute (the studio pup). We have our areas of specialty, but everyday is collaborative (plus we have some fun along the way).
What’s inspiring you right now — and what are you excited to explore next?
We’ve been exploring larger furniture and statement pieces. We’re talking coffee tables, floating shelves, and large lamps.
SHOP THE FENWAY x SAFFRON + POE COLLECTION
