I couldn't help but break into a smile when I visited ceramicist Caitriona Platts-Manoury's studio in St. Remy de Provence: her joie de vivre, in the form of her exuberant ceramics, is infectious.

Platts-Manoury, a native of Ireland, received her ceramics degree at Central St Martin's in London and has lived around the world: in London, Paris, New York, and even the Caribbean. She finally settled in Provence twelve years ago, where she creates pottery in a studio to one side of her house. Taking her inspiration from pop and contemporary art, magazines, and advertisements, she describes her work as "quirky, whimsical, larger than life, fun—I don't take things too seriously." She prefers to work in earthenware, where the colors respond better to lower temperatures, offering her a wider range of colors. She has exhibited abroad and locally; her pieces are available by commission only. For more information, see Caitriona Platts-Manoury.

N.B.: Later this week, we'll be posting a story about Platts-Manoury's home.

Above: Platts-Manoury makes colorful tableware. "I love the 'making ' process—and am thrilled with the idea that my pieces are a pleasure to live with and use," she says.

Above: A pair of sculptural Bubbleballs.

Above: The white vase is now sitting on my kitchen table in London, full of yellow tulips.

Above: Bold primary colors appear in these bowls and platters.

Above: Fruits and vegetables are reinterpreted at a larger-than-life scale.

Above: A set of glossy cacti.

Above: Placing ceramic cutouts on plexiglass is Platts-Manoury's way of painting.

Photography by Christine Hanway for Remodelista.