The Art Of Imperfection: A Quiet Conversation with Marlous van Heije.

Model, mother and ceramist, Marlous van Heije, talks to us about finding beauty in the imperfect and the art of surrendering to the creative process.

As we continue with our community conversations, we discover why working with her hands has allowed Marlous to reconnect with nature.

'I always feel a bit nervous when someone holds something I made. My ceramics are me. My soul, my hands, my love.

- Artist, Marlous van Heije.

Though clay came into her life later than other creative pursuits, it quickly became a language of its own, a medium through which she could explore and express herself. Today, in her sunlit studio in a small village outside Amsterdam, she shapes recycled clay into organic, intimate forms that feel alive with subtle movement and quiet intention.

‘My creativity found its voice when I stepped away from rigid structures,’ she explains. After studying briefly at the Dutch Ceramics Academy, Marlous realised her imagination was constrained by formal instruction. Instead, she learned from ceramicists whose methods resonated with her own, a story that shaped the free, sensitive, and intuitive style she is known for today.

For Marlous, clay is more than a material; it is a teacher. ‘It shows me that beauty doesn’t have to be perfect. It lives in the uneven edge, a fingerprint, a slight crookedness. Beauty is something you feel, not something you measure.’ Each piece she creates invites the holder to notice the subtleties that make life and art alike feel real.

Sustainability is equally central to her practice, and the unique Marlous Plates she has crafted exclusively for LIV are made with attention and respect: recycled clay, natural materials, and reused glazes ensure her work honours both the earth and the time invested. These are objects meant to last, timeless rather than trend-driven, each one carrying the care and patience Marlous invests in it.

Handling a Marlous creation, she says, can feel intimate. ‘My ceramics are me. My soul, my hands, my love. To someone else, it might simply be a product, but I hope they can feel the care and softness inside it.’ Her work balances control and surrender - the shape she guides, the material decides, and the kiln ultimately determines the final form. It is in that interplay between intention and letting go that beauty emerges.

Her practice is a meditation on cycles: shaping, drying, firing, breaking, beginning again. Clay, she notes, connects her to nature and life itself, a reminder that creation is part of a larger rhythm. ‘Everything comes from the earth and returns to it. It is cyclical, like life.’

For Marlous, beauty is simplicity, honesty, and calm. It is visible in the organic forms she creates, in the care with which she makes them, and in the quiet presence they bring to daily life. It is no surprise, then, that LIV resonates with her. ‘The bottles alone make me happy. The formulas feel pure on my skin and give a soft, natural glow. It feels aligned with the same care and intention I try to bring to my work.’

In every plate, Marlous offers more than clay. She offers a pause, a small ritual, and a reminder of the beauty in what is real, considered, and made with love. If you’re looking for a gift with soul and intention, explore the Marlous Plate — handmade, one-of-a-kind, and created for quiet winter moments.

SHOP THE MARLOUS CERAMIC PLATE HERE