I did my best to keep this concise and to the point, but I ask that you read to the end!

My name is Matt Brownlow and, among other things, I'm a professional ceramic artist! I've had a deep passion for wheel-thrown pottery since my first attempt during my sophomore year of high school, over a decade ago. I threw (pun intended) myself into my work headfirst and consumed as much education and practice as I possibly could, but as I approached college I felt the need to select an area of study that could be deemed more "serious" or "realistic."

Throughout my undergraduate studies and my early professional career I put my pots on a figurative and literal shelf and admired them for the joy they brought me when crafting them, but I stopped making time for my ceramic practice. After a few years as a digital marketer in New York City I found myself burnt out and seeking some form of joyful relief; something that could fill me back up and refuel my energy. I found a community ceramic studio in Brooklyn and reintroduced myself to the magic of spinning wet clay.

About six months into this rediscovery that began to fill me back up, I fell victim to a company-wide layoff in June 2023 and had to move back to amish country and live with my parents. I've spent the past 17 months vehemently searching for work and due to an overcrowded job market, I haven't been able to land my next career opportunity.

My only saving grace has been the community studio I used to be part of as a high school student where I was able to deepen my ceramic practice and produce a decent amount of quality work. My pieces began to pile up and my unemployment benefits began to run out so I made the decision to commit to being a full-time ceramic artist while I figured out my next move. I enrolled in at least four craft fairs and art markets every month and opened up an online store with the hopes of supporting myself. Each month I was able to make enough money to cover my existing bills and begin paying down some debt and I finally felt like all of my hard work was paying off.

As it stands, I've increased my production in anticipation of the holiday season and going into the new year I plan to fully invest in and grow my small business. This is where y'all come in!

I'm looking to raise $10,000 to reinvest into my business, M@ Studios, covering the cost of materials, studio rent, marketing/promotion, market fees, website, and other business-related expenses. On top of this, I want to root my business in giving back to the communities that have always lifted me up. Therefore I am donating 10% of all proceeds of this GoFundMe to mutual aid funds that support LGBTQIA+ youth experiencing homelessness - any proceeds that exceed my goal of $10,000 50% will be donated to these mutual aid funds (ex. if the total amount raised=$15,000, then $3,500 will be donated). Beyond this fundraiser, I will continue to donate 10% of all annual profits of my business as it continues.

As an added bonus, any donation over $100 will receive a limited-edition candle housed in a reusable lidded jar. Just make sure to include your email in the donation submission and I will reach out to you directly to organize shipping and handling.

Thank you so much for hearing my story, I have so much deep appreciation for you and I encourage you to donate and/or share this page to your friends, family, and wider community. I hope my efforts can bring positive change through this endeavor and I would love to have you play an integral role in the process!