Alyson Iwamoto is a ceramic artist born and raised in Los Angeles. Her Japanese heritage and L.A. roots deeply influence her work. With a degree in ceramics from California State University, Long Beach, she has worked in clay for 20 years, guided by the conviction that art builds community and heals. 

For nearly a decade, Alyson taught ceramics to children at Inner-City Arts, a non-profit organization in Skid Row. There, she witnessed the power of art and the infinite potential of imagination.

That belief carries into her community-based projects. Belly Like Drum is an intergenerational resource book that gathers stories, recipes, poetry, and food-related jokes, brought to life with illustrations and paintings. Her current focus, the Artifact Memory Project, is a participant-led exploration of memory and healing through sculpture and story.

Whether in the classroom, the studio, or the community, her work affirms the same truth: art brings people together and heals.