Artist Spotlight: Based in Toronto, Tamara “Solem” AI-Issa is a Syrian-Filipina sculptural artist who uses old ceramic traditions of SWANA and South Asia to revisit timelines and shape vessels that echo the rituals, architecture, and histories that impacted her. Originally studying physiology, Solem found herself turning to the wheel unpremeditatedly. What began as apprenticeship in a small studio evolved into something more permanent: a practice rooted in intuition, demand, and rhythm. For Tamara, growth is communal. Through her travels for collaborations with fellow artists and teaching, her reservoir of creativity is pooled and refilled. “Through learning about others, I learn about myself, which shapes my worldview and supports my growth as a creative,” she shares. | Milk Studios