Today we’d like to introduce you to Coury Palermo.
Hi Coury, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I began working with clay a little over three and a half years ago. I signed up for an eight-week course at Nashville’s Metro Parks Centennial Arts Center in the fall of ’22 with no aspirations other than trying my hand at something I had always had a casual fascination with. By the end of the first class, I was hooked. It would be another year before I took a second round of classes, followed by a second full year before I decided to find a space where I could devote some serious time to the practice of the craft.
In the Summer of ’24, I signed up for a membership at Make Nashville, and by the fall of the same year, I was considering closing my interior design business to pursue ceramics full-time. In ’25, I began the process of realizing that dream, and officially launched The Reserve by Coury Palermo. I’m currently focused on home goods and teaware. I would love to develop a small-batch home & teaware line, specializing in modern shapes that feel easy and well-crafted.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am extremely fortunate to have found a makerspace in my community. Make Nashville changed my life. It has given me the freedom to truly work at my craft, without the fear of time constraints or the pressure that comes with finding/creating a dedicated workspace. There have been bumps along the way, but that is just part of the process when building anything from scratch.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When I began throwing pieces on the wheel, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I knew I loved functional goods, but had no idea what I wanted to focus on. For the first year, I threw pieces that would inform a variety of shapes: bowls, vases, tumblers, lidded vessels, etc. I wanted to have a mental recall of how each shape worked and could inspire a completely different silhouette. It took me a solid year of throwing to realize I am drawn to intentional functionality. Vases, lidded vessels, and more recently, teaware, are silhouettes that continue to excite me. My goal is to master pieces that encourage community/ intentional moments. Pieces for the dining table – tea sets – centerpiece vases. These are the shapes I instinctively return to when I’m preparing for a collection.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I would love to find a restaurant concept to collaborate with. I have been making a series of Gaiwan and Shiboridashi, which I think would be a fun and unique addition for the right space/concept. I’m always open to collaboration or commission work. If anyone is interested, they can head over to trbycp.com or email me at info@trbycp.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trbycp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trbycp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trbycp
