Ardmore artist Daniel Hoffman transforms cremated human remains into beautiful ceramic art, offering grieving families a lasting tribute to hold onto, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.
Customers send Ahava Memorials a small scoop of cremated remains, which Hoffman incorporates into each ceramic memorial.
Hoffman runs his business from his home.
“It’s a personal service,” he said.
He began using the technique over a decade ago with his aunt’s ashes. Although his budding animation career diverted him from shaping clay, a layoff years later gave him a second chance.
He launched his business in December. He incorporates ashes into the glaze, producing a marbling and shifting of hues unique to each individual or pet.
“The color of the glaze gets influenced by the ashes and it becomes a one-of-a-kind, more personal memorial,” said Hoffman.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York recently showcased a short film highlighting the artist’s creative process. Hoffman hopes that his skills will make fine art more accessible and facilitate healing for others.
“I want people to feel like they can have a work of art in their home that means something personally to them and it’s not out of reach price-wise or time frame-wise,” he said.
Read more about Ardmore’s Daniel Hoffman in WHYY.
