Rae Dunn

Rae Dunn (born 1962 or 1963), is an American ceramist best known for her eponymous brand of ceramic wares and pottery.

Early life Rae Dunn was born in Fresno, California, where she grew up. Dunn began taking piano lessons at the age of four.

Brand

After deciding to pursue ceramic art as a full-time career, she founded her eponymous brand of ceramic wares in 1995. The brand gained increased popularity in the 2010s due to a confluence of the "farmhouse chic" trend and rise of social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.

The brand's wares are known for featuring simple designs and one- or two-word phrases, like "yum" or "family" emblazoned on them. These phrases are also labeled with the brand's signature font, a "delicate, unadorned, hand-crafted" typeface. White or cream-colored ceramic mugs and containers have been cited by media outlets as among the brand's most popular.

Products from the brand have been cited to be considerably coveted, with shoppers of the brand lining up early prior to a store's opening in order to acquire products. Dunn's brand has attracted a cult following, with shoppers being nicknamed "Rae Dunners" and "Rae Dunn Women" and labeled as "rabid" and "feral" by media outlets. Additionally, "a voraciously focused secondary market of resellers, traders, and collectors has grown around the brand." Dunn herself has acknowledged the following behind her brand, referring to it as a "weird phenomenon" that she never intended to cause. She also expressed being sad and upset about resellers, stating "I wish I could sell more of my handmade stuff. But when I do it, I know that people are buying it and reselling it for hundreds of dollars more," adding "I feel like I'm just being used."

Other ventures Since launching her brand, Dunn has ventured into writing. She has authored three books.

Personal life Dunn is married and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, having been based in Berkeley and Emeryville. She also has annual residencies in France. Dunn has been cited as "shy", "quiet", and "an introvert" in her personal life.