Meet Phoebe Li, founder of Objects by Phoebe, a Sydney ceramics brand that’s all about exploring the harmony between function and form in the most playful way possible. From matcha bowls to vases, her handcrafted pieces bring a little more beauty and intention to everyday moments, and her journey from uni student to full-time ceramicist is as inspiring as the work itself.
But Objects by Phoebe is so much more than ceramics. From overcoming self-doubt to inspiring high schoolers at markets, Phoebe’s journey breaking into the creative industry is proof that passion, intentionality and human connection can build something truly meaningful.
In this exclusive interview, Phoebe shares how she transformed her craft into a business and how she’s paving the way for the next generation of creatives. Let’s meet this local legend!
Tell us about Objects by Phoebe, how did it all get started and what’s your mission?
I started in uni while I was studying my master’s and I’ve been loving it ever since. At first, I would just give them for free, but slowly, everybody just encouraged me to actually start a business from it. Now, Objects by Phoebe is a ceramics homewares-based brand in Sydney. We transform everyday objects into design rituals, playfully exploring where function meets form. We make a lot of homewares, a lot of vases, cups and a lot of matcha bowls.
I think the ultimate mission with Objects is I want it to be a vessel for inspiring the creative community as well as empowering the next generation. Funding a business as a woman and being an Asian second generation immigrant, art is the most unconventional route that you can take when it comes to your career, so it almost feels like I’m part of a bigger movement and I’m paving the way for the next generation.
What challenges did you face and how have you overcome them?
I think the biggest challenge is probably being a one-woman team. When I first started, I didn’t know how much work comes into a business, because I’m just making my art and thinking that I just make it and I sell it and that’s it. But the biggest challenge that I probably face is self-doubt. As an artist, running a business and selling your own personal stories, your art, it’s a very fragile thing to do and a very vulnerable thing to do. It almost feels like your art equates to your work, but I think that’s your self-doubt talking.
What’s your advice to someone with an artistic endeavour starting out?
Ask yourself why you want to start. It’s really important to have a vision of why, especially when you turn your craft into a brand. Sometimes your passion gets lost because you’re doing so much more. Really sit down and be intentional with your motives, be open and learn from those that have come before you.
What’s the most rewarding part of your journey so far?
I think the most rewarding part of my creative journey has got to be being able to inspire others. I was at a market last month in Melbourne and it was my first interstate market when this guy comes up to me, asks for a photo and I’m like, okay, I’ll just take a photo with you. It’s chill. And then we start talking about how he is in high school, he wants to do art, that he’s been following me for a while and he just wants to do what I do one day. That really touched a soft spot in my heart.
VistaPrint believes in supporting businesses just like Objects by Phoebe. As a customer of VistaPrint, what are your favourite products and how do you use them?
I used VistaPrint banners to make a lot of signage to make sure everybody knows who I am. I also have little tablecloths with my branding. A lot of the time I put thank you cards out, welcome cards and stickers and small little gifts that people can just take home so they’ll remember me by.
I think the biggest product that I use to promote are stickers. They’re always the first thing that people see when I set up my stores and it opens conversations. I think it’s almost like a little gateway to welcoming people in.
Ready to bring your creativity to life like Phoebe? VistaPrint has the custom marketing tools, design services and merch to help you get started on your creative business. Follow @vistaprintaustralia on Instagram for more branding inspiration and catch more Aussie #LocalLegends on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@vistaprintau.
