No. ('nō)  is the ceramic art and design house of Romy Northover, launched in 2012. Specialising in custom made ceramics with an 'ancient future' style. 

Sunday: Hi Romy. How are you feeling today and why?

Summer rain outside turning everything chartreuse green, and I have an acupuncture appointment this evening!

Romy: Oh man! There is so much going on at No. right now. We have been working with a landscape gardener on some lanterns which are being installed in a private garden in LA this summer.

There is an upcoming collaboration with Atelier De Geste on an installation and performance for design week. We are exploring the expansive nature of ceramics, not just as a product but the surrounding movement that goes into it and its presence of form.

My biggest project is that I’m working on my first ceramics solo show in Sydney Australia curated by the very talented Kara Town of NEST TOGETHER. Kara and I met through instagram and have become great friends. I admire Kara’s appreciation for style and trust her aesthetics 100%. The show is an opportunity for me to expand my sensory perception. Space is an enormous part of my work - In many ways everything I do is an exploration of space.

S: When did you realize that ceramic was your passion?

Romy: I always knew it but I had a hard time understand what that meant to me personally. Without ceramics I’m just not who I’m supposed to be.

S: Where do you source inspiration?

Romy: I get asked this question a lot and for me it’s really mostly to do with taking care of my health. If I’m stressed out, tired I can’t see straight and I miss things - Anything can be a source of information if you are feeling receptive.

S: Who is your favourite artist?

Romy: I adore Eileen Grey, Cy Twombly, Pina Bausch, Balanchine, Lucie Rie, Mies Van Der Rohe, Iggy Pop, Toshiko Takaezu  - I’m big into nameless art from the ancient.

S: How does your studio look like?

Romy: I currently work out of a shared studio - it’s open, white, and clean. Everything I make is in relation to space so it has a clear and direct impact to my work. 

S: What music are you currently playing in your studio?

Romy: Tinariwen -  Music can really make you feel alive like nothing else. But I also like to work without anything sometimes.

S: What is your favourite hangout in your neighbourhood? 

Romy: I actually like being at home alot haha! I live in a very green part of Brooklyn called Park Slope - as the name suggests it’s close to a park and the outdoors is super important. I feel crazed, and starved if I’m indoors too much.

That said I love going into Manhattan and feeling its vibrant energy - It can be really thrilling just walking the streets.

S: Latest watched on Netflix?

Romy: I’m not sure if it’s Netflix but we’ve been watching Madame Secretary - It’s annoying but I quite like watching political dramas, I can't watch anymore detective series they were giving me nightmares!

S: If you could choose only one thing in your home to keep for life, what would it be? (not a person or an animal)

Romy: I have this rock that I’m nuts about - Its tourmaline in feldspar- It’s in a raw formation in black, white and neutral, perfect - I love that thing like there’s no tomorrow.

S: What are you reading right now? And can you recommend it?

Romy: I’m dyslexic and a hopelessly slow reader, it takes me months to read a book so I switched to audio books - I can then read while I work which is fantastic. I’m reading two books one called ‘Scale’ on how to scale your business, and ‘a lotus grows in the mud’ by Goldie Hawn.

S: Do you have any good tips for a sustainable lifestyle?

Romy: This is so difficult in modern life, when there is so much misleading information out there but it’s important we do try. It’s alot to do with choices - how we live our lives affects everything... the environment, including other people - our actions have a knock on effect... It’s important to remember that - from our daily attitude, to how we consume. 

S: Five things that make your Sunday?

1. Quiet morning
2. Day dreams
3. Family
4. Outside
5. Early night

Picture of Romy taken by photographer Jon Von Pamer