There’s something special about being invited into an artist’s studio space. It’s where the magic happens. We usually get to see the gallery perspective; white walls, glossy, and put together, but the studio is where the ideas come together. We can see what sticks and what doesn’t and really feel the connection between the artist and the work.

Today, I found myself inside the sun-drenched home studio of Kimberly Escobar, owner of PepperMango. With a panoramic view of the Ogeechee River, I quickly understood her inspiration. Flowing through the open windows, the brackish breeze and natural light was cascading across her workbench. Seashells, horseshoe crabs, and antique benches filled the space with little curiosities. Outside the window, a pair of ducks were feeding from a giant clam shell shaped bowl forged from her own hands.

Kimberly and her husband, Daniel, purchased their home sight unseen—a leap of faith that turned out to be a total gut job. As I looked around, it was clear they’ve transformed this house into a warm, eclectic sanctuary filled with the richness of life and art. Here, among the chaos of raising three kids, two cats, a parrot named Jabo, turkeys, ducks, geese, and chickens, Kimberly pours her heart into her craft.

Kimberly’s path to ceramics wasn’t a straight line. After a successful career in aviation, she felt a pull towards creativity. She began making wood risers and trays before moving on to luxe candles set in antique vessels, inspired by her travels. “I always wanted to create things that people wouldn’t just throw away,” she explains, her eyes sparkling with passion. Her candle business took off, catching the attention of a national retailer, which thrust her into the world of wholesale. When the pandemic struck, Kimberly faced supply chain issues that left her feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. “I left that experience feeling so broken,” she recalls. “It just wasn’t fun anymore.”

During that challenging time, Kimberly sought solace on the beach at Tybee Island, where she would collect seashells. “I would pick up the broken ones, and to me, they were the most beautiful things I’d ever held.” It was there, searching for inspiration in nature’s imperfections that she began to reconnect with her artistic spirit.

A trip to Nepal with Daniel marked a turning point in her journey. While there, Kimberly took a pottery class in a small village, which she describes as her “ah-ha moment.” Returning home, she declared to Daniel, “This is it; this is where I need to be.” By Christmas that year, she had a kiln. Two years later, she is entirely self-taught, channeling her experiences into her ceramics.

Kimberly forms each of her pieces by hand, carefully shaping each one organically with grit, then finishes them off with an earth-toned glaze before firing. “If you look at my pieces, they have lots of texture, and that represents life,” she explains. “You go through all these things, and you still pick it up, and it’s gorgeous and strong.” From sculptural centerpiece bowls to vessels and dishes, each piece is not only food-safe and lead-free but surprisingly dishwasher-safe—meant to be used and loved.

Kimberly’s nature-inspired work has a certain authenticity to it, a celebration of form and function. Her pieces can be found in boutiques from Bluffton to Orlando, but it’s at local markets where she feels most at home. “I love meeting the customer; when I see someone walk up and actually have a connection to something,” she says with her infectious smile; a stark contrast to the demanding world of wholesale.

Kimberly Escobar’s journey from aviation to ceramic artistry is a testament to the beauty of embracing life’s imperfections. With each handmade piece, she invites us to celebrate the unique narratives we all carry—turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Whether it’s a textured bowl or a sculptural vase, her creations serve as a reminder that art, much like life, is at its most beautiful when it’s real and unfiltered.

For more of her work visit peppermango.com.