about the studio
“Beauty is a kind of mystery, which is why it cannot be grasped adequately through the intellect.”- Yanagi Sōetsu
Western Desert Studio is located near Joshua Tree, CA, where each piece produced is unique, either as a one-of-a-kind work or part of a limited edition. Though many pieces from the collections have practical uses, the primary concern is creating harmony between the work's shape, texture, and color. Each object is made by hand, and each mark left by the hand is embraced. Every glaze is prepared on-site from raw minerals and oxides that lend all ceramic pieces their distinctive characteristics, and the custom furniture is created with premium hand-chosen hardwoods, using time-honored joinery and hand tools.
WDS owner Brian DeRan
Brian DeRan, the owner of WDS, was raised in rural Pennslyvania and studied painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Post-college, he began a career in the film industry by working on the John Waters films; “Pecker” and “Cecil B Demented”, Matthew Barney’s “Cremaster II”, and later on “Runaway Bride”, “Random Hearts”, and the pilot episode of the HBO series "The Wire".
Building on his foundation from years of set painting, he began restoring monuments and gilding historic buildings and religious temples. That led to a limited contract installing Classical, Egyptian, and Ethiopian religious art in the newly renovated classical wing of the Walters Art Museum, which would significantly inform his own work.
After completing the installation, he headed to NYC and founded LEG UP!, his music management company. During his time in New York, he managed influential musicians such as Animal Collective, Battles, and Gang Gang Dance while turning his artistic focus toward photography. Excited by producing “Transverse Temporal Gyrus” at the Guggenheim Museum, he went on to co-found and program the unique music and arts festival "Basilica Soundscape" in Hudson, NY, from 2011 until 2016.
After seven years in NYC, DeRan moved to Los Angeles and found himself drawn to the surrounding Mojave and Sonora deserts. A perfect storm of opportunities presented itself in 2015, and he relocated to the Joshua Tree area of the California high desert to consult on fine art-related projects and concentrate on his own creative endeavors.
For additional information or inquiries, please get in touch with us below.
W.D.S.
Portrait and vignette photos: Brandon Harman
FAQ
Are the ceramics Food safe?
Though we do love food here at WDS, not all our ceramics are made for daily use.
Occasionally we will make a teapot, yunomi, bowl, etc… that we intend to be used often, and for those objects, we will note in the item’s “about“ page if it is food safe.
Do you do commissions?
We like to collaborate and are open to discussing ideas, but we do not replicate or copy objects or fabricate ideas from other designers.
If you see something on our site that you would be interested in having multiples of, we are happy to speak about production.
*we are interested in making custom tiles!
what are “ready to ship” and “made to order”
Items tagged “ready to ship” are presently in the studio and will be shipped out within 10 days.
Items tagged “made to order” are made as soon as the order is placed and typically take 3 weeks to ship, but can take up to 6 weeks depending on the size. For your peace of mind, we will keep you updated throughout the production process for your order.
How do you Ship your objects?
All items are carefully hand-packed in earth-friendly packing materials. We do our best to use only biodegradable materials. We ship USPS ground domestically for all smaller packages which generally arrive 7 to 15 business days from the time your order was placed depending if the item is in stock or made to order.
Do you do wholesale?
WDS is not a mass-production studio, but we are open to discussing custom orders.
what is your returN policy?
Our objects' unique nature and demand makes all sales final, but if an issue with your piece does arise, please contact studio@westerndesertstudio.com, and we will do our best to accommodate you and remedy the situation.
Will you ship as a gift?
Of course! Just let us know in the comment section of your order or contact us directly at contact@westerndesertstudio.com with your order number and any directions.