Pia grew up in the country and spent many hours exploring the outdoors where she came to appreciate the shapes, forms and textures found in nature. Though she always had an interest in working with clay, Pia did not take her first pottery class until high school. Following school, however, pottery was set aside in favor of travel. For the next 15 years, Pia traveled widely observing the use of clay and mud in the everyday life of cultures around the world, from architecture to vessels used to store water and food. In the early 1990's, Pia returned to pottery. Within a few years, she established a co-operative studio where the potters work independantly but share equipment, materials, enthusiasm and support. Pia's pottery is fired in a wood kiln, which creates unique effects that connot be acheived or duplicated in any other way.