This artist transfers an inherited love for ‘beauty in the everyday’ into her porcelain creations, sharing them at this year’s ArtWalk Liberty Station

The natural world around Silvana Barrios was her first art teacher. Citing a childhood in Argentina that she says was a beautiful combination of the city, the countryside, and summers by the ocean, it was the plants, shells, and texture available to her in nature providing her with plenty of lessons.

“I drew obsessively, not to replicate what I saw, but to understand it. That innate curiosity became my compass,” she says. “Studying graphic design at the University of Buenos Aires gave me structure, but the soul of my art was shaped much earlier by wind, saltwater, and silence.”

Over the years, she’s continued to apply those lessons to the art she creates, from photography to shoe design to handmade porcelain pieces. Her clay, pottery, and porcelain will be on display at ArtWalk Liberty Station from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Sunday at Liberty Station’s Ingram Plaza on Dewey Road in Point Loma. ArtWalk San Diego hosts multiple art festivals each year—including the Mission Fed ArtWalk, ArtWalk Carlsbad, and Bella Vita Fest—featuring both visual and performing artists, food, and activities for kids. Barrios first participated in last year’s Carlsbad and Little Italy events, and says these were transformative experiences that gave her the visibility and courage to step fully into her artist self.

Today, at 47, she creates and sells her work through her website, June (shop.quierojune.com), and lives in Serra Mesa with her husband, Juan Pablo Gonzalez, and their son, Francisco. She credits the women in her family for the artistry of their sewing, crocheting, and mending paired with their resourcefulness and creativity, saying that she “inherited their love for making, not for perfection, but for beauty in the everyday.”

Q: Your work on your website, June, features your porcelain creations and ceramics workshops, but you’ve also taken photography courses and began designing shoes in 2011. What led you from graphic design to shoe making?

A: I’ve always had a restless need to touch what I imagine. Even as a design student, I ran small creative businesses — making candles, lamps, and even modeling 3D objects for video games. But hours behind a screen drained me. A friend invited me to a shoemaking class, and I said yes without hesitation. It awakened something tactile and joyful in me. That’s when I understood that my medium may shift, but the drive to create never does.

Q: In an interview with Bold Journey last year, you mentioned your entry into working with clay in 2022 as a way to cope with your anxiety attacks. Are you comfortable sharing what was happening at that time, and how you came upon clay, and why this artform seemed to help ease your anxiety?

A: By 2022, the pressure I placed on myself had become unbearable. I was running a business remotely, demanding perfection at every step. Then came the panic attack, sudden and terrifying. At the ER, all tests were fine, but my soul wasn’t. I needed to return to the version of myself that found joy in simple things. Clay found me at the perfect moment. The first time my hands touched it, I felt time slow down. Clay doesn’t lie; you must be present. That tactile meditation became my therapy, my anchor.

What I love about Serra Mesa…

I love opening my garage studio and feeling the daylight flood in, waving to neighbors as they walk by. I enjoy my morning walks with my dog, listening to birds, and seeing the mountains in the distance. There’s a peaceful rhythm to Serra Mesa, and I love knowing my neighbors by name and being part of a small, friendly community. 

Q: You’ve also mentioned seeing mistakes as opportunities for learning. What are some examples of mistakes that have been significant opportunities for learning in your career?

A: So many. Early on, I joined fairs that weren’t aligned with my work; sales were slow and I felt Invisible, but I learned how to present my story, price my art, and read an audience. In ceramics, cracked pieces or failed firings taught me patience and often birthed unexpected beauty. Some of my favorite textures came from “mistakes.”

Q: In an interview with SD Voyager, you said, “Discovering your identity in the business world is no easy feat, and once you find it, presenting it to the world for validation is another uphill climb.” What did you learn about your identity in the business world? How would you describe it and what elements were important to you in presenting this identity to the rest of the world?

A: That authenticity is my compass. I don’t want to chase trends; I want to create from a place of honesty. Vulnerability became my power. Presenting my work without filters or pretenses helped me connect with people who value calm, softness, and emotion in art.

Q: What are you trying to express in your work?

A: Stillness. A pause. A breath. My pieces are invitations to slow down, to feel something gentle. I want to offer people a moment of peace in a chaotic world.

Q: What inspires you in your work?

A: Nature, always. I walk through my garden or neighborhood collecting wildflowers and leaves to press into porcelain. I study shells and petals. There’s poetry in the curves of coral or the texture of bark. The ocean and its tides mirror my own inner rhythm.

Q: You’re one of the participating artists in this year’s ArtWalk Liberty Station. Why did you choose to participate?

A: Because it feels alive. The people come with open hearts. The conversations are rich. It’s not just about selling, it’s about connection. Sharing the stories behind each piece is a joy I rarely find elsewhere.

Q: What will we see from you at this year’s ArtWalk?

A: Visitors will see functional pieces like organic mugs and espresso cups—everyday objects transformed into moments of calm. I’m also debuting porcelain wall sculptures inspired bypetals and corals. These are forms that feel alive, inviting you to get close, to touch, to feel their texture and how the light plays on them.

Q: What would you like people to get from your work this weekend?

A: A sense of peace. My art is about slowing down, appreciating small moments like a quiet coffee, a curve on a wall, a pause to breathe. I invite everyone to hold the pieces, feel their textures, and discover the serenity within.

Q: What’s been challenging about your work as a visual artist?

A: The biggest challenge was allowing myself to feel like an artist. It took me a year to own that title. Then came the challenge of being seen, of navigating social media and the flood of information. Shows like ArtWalk have been my best way to connect with people in a real, meaningful way.

Q: What’s been rewarding about this work?

A: Seeing people connect emotionally with my work is the most rewarding part. When someone picks up a piece and says it makes them feel happy or peaceful, I know I’ve shared a part of myself successfully.

Q: What has this work taught you about yourself?

A: That I have more patience than I ever imagined! It’s taught me flexibility, dedication, and the ability to adapt quickly. It’s also a daily reminder to slow down and be present.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: “Make art for you.” It reminds me to stay true to my vision first, and everything else will follow.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: I love biking along the bay at sunrise, and I’m obsessed with collecting old botanical books and shells. I can spend hours exploring tiny details in nature, many of which quietly appear in my ceramic pieces.

Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: My ideal weekend starts with a morning bike ride or hike, followed by a beach day at Law Street with family and friends. The kids play while we talk for hours, and if the weather isn’t right for the beach, we meet at the bay on the P.B. side. I love ending the day with a simple sunset picnic and watching the colors change over the ocean.