A Joyful Meeting of Colour and Craft:
Gavin Houghton x Villa Bologna Pottery
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Gavin Houghton x Villa Bologna Pottery
The story of this collaboration is as personal as it is creative. Having long admired Gavin’s work as both an artist and a ceramicist, we were delighted when the opportunity to work together emerged almost serendipitously. It all began when Boz, Gavin’s husband and a photographer we had the pleasure of working with, brought one of Gavin’s plates to a shoot. The plate instantly captured our hearts—so much so that it took pride of place in our kitchen, where it remains a beloved feature.
When the chance to collaborate finally arose, it felt both special and inevitable. To be able to unite Villa Bologna Pottery’s centuries-old tradition of craftsmanship with Gavin’s playful, contemporary sensibility was an honour and a joy.
At the heart of this collaboration is a shared aesthetic language that makes the pieces feel both effortless and exciting. Gavin’s house in Morocco reflects his affinity with Mediterranean and North African culture—a connection that resonates deeply here in Malta, given our geographical and cultural proximity to North Africa.
This intertwining of influences is visible in the collection’s colours, patterns, and mood. Gavin’s instinctive use of bold tones, his embrace of playfulness, and the joyful energy that animates his work align seamlessly with Villa Bologna Pottery’s own approach. Both of us celebrate design that is rooted in tradition yet unafraid of fun—a balance that is beautifully realised in these new pieces.
For Gavin, the guiding principle of the collection was simple: to make people smile.
“The overall mood is to be light hearted and playful,” he explains.
“I didn’t want a formal design—the plates were slightly inspired by the Bloomsbury aesthetic, hand painted with a loose hand. The vases always enlivened a table or mantle when filled with colourful flowers.”
The plates, with their painterly lines and relaxed patterns, are meant to be lived with and enjoyed. They can be mixed and matched, layered onto a vibrant tablecloth, or added to an eclectic collection—bringing instant character and charm to any setting. The vases, meanwhile, have been designed with life in mind: their bold forms and colours transform the simple act of filling them with flowers into something uplifting and celebratory.
Colour is at the heart of both Gavin’s work and Villa Bologna Pottery’s. In this collection, his palette draws on the traditions of Delftware, with its timeless cobalt blue, while adding a playful twist through vibrant red dots and painterly accents. The result is a collection that feels at once classic and contemporary, refined yet relaxed.
These pieces remind us that pottery should never be purely decorative—it should bring warmth, joy, and vitality into everyday life.
The Gavin Houghton x Villa Bologna Pottery collection is more than just plates and vases: it’s a celebration of artistry, collaboration, and the beauty of living with handmade objects. Each piece carries with it the playful energy of Gavin’s design sensibility and the craftsmanship of our Maltese artisans.
Whether used for entertaining, displayed proudly on a mantle, or incorporated into the rhythms of daily life, these pieces are designed to spark joy and add a touch of colour to every moment. At Villa Bologna Pottery, we believe that design should be both rooted in tradition and full of fun—and this collaboration embodies that belief beautifully. It is a reminder that the objects we surround ourselves with should not only serve a purpose, but also make us smile.
