Dafna Levy-banay is the name behind studio Orto.

'Orto' is an Italian word meaning a small vegetable garden near the house. The name was chosen after her first motivation to work with the ceramic material, as a 'down to earth' material to create from. 

 

Dafna is working in her own studio in Tel-aviv, inspired by the desert, where she grow up as a child, and the sea, which she lives near these days. 

Graduated from the ceramic department at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem. Won the prize for Excellence in the material work for her final project.

 

After finishing her studies she started a career in the ceramic field, opening her studio for ceramic creation, and pottery classes.  

She crafts decorative and functional pieces, using slip casting molds and the potter's wheel, the pieces are made from stone ware clay and porcelain.