Why Representation Matters
Women have contributed creativity, leadership, and innovation to the art of bonsai, yet their work has too often gone unseen. The Purple Pot Society exists to change that by building community, visibility, and opportunity for women and gender-diverse bonsai artists worldwide.
Pot by Etsuko Bram
Our Mission: Grow Inclusion Through Art
The Purple Pot Society supports, encourages, and inspires women and gender-diverse bonsai artists, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable bonsai community.
We advance this mission by:
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Partnering with museums and gardens to showcase women’s bonsai art
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Creating scholarships for education and training
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Preserving the stories and history of female bonsai artists
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Building a global network of mentors and professionals
Why "Purple Pot"?
In traditional bonsai displays, purple pots are rare – expressive, unconventional, and full of personality. They’ve become our symbol of creativity, individuality, and courage; a reminder that true artistry flourishes when we honor tradition while daring to evolve.
Pot by Denise Soultanian (DMSPottery)
How It All Began
In 2021, bonsai artist and writer Samantha Holm (pictured, right) reached out to Carmen Leskoviansky (left), Bonsai Collections Specialist at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens, while researching Gender Disparity in American Bonsai.
They quickly bonded over their shared love of bonsai, art, and social justice – and the joys and challenges of balancing creativity with motherhood. Realizing they both wanted to champion gender equity in bonsai, they founded The Purple Pot Society: a growing global community of artists determined to make bonsai a space where every hand that shapes a tree is valued.
A Global Community of Growth
