Who we are
Cyno is short for cynosure, which was derived from the guidance and wisdom of the North Star. The word then became used as a way to define nobles and people of great admiration who could access this North Star wisdom. It is a focal point that guides someone in the direction of meaning and purpose.
The aim of Cyno is to create objects with North Star wisdom using design, texture, material, and pattern that ground and connect one back to their bodies and embrace the human condition. The human condition, being, common shared experiences that we all go through at one point or another. Our products are designed to cultivate new ways of thinking and engaging by creating environments with intention. We promise to maintain craftsmanship, focus on user experience, and create products that enrich your living spaces.
At Cyno we hope to connect our customers to the world around them in more meaningful ways.
Perhaps by using concrete in beautiful ways that makes someone have a new experience with the sidewalk they use everyday. With these new ways of thinking I believe we can expand the creative capacities of any individual.
Meet the Founder Anthony Romero
My practice has been inspired by the cosmos, which I studied as a teenager as a source of direction and wonder. Exploring something larger than myself helped me understand my place in the universe. Some of my forms show movement of energy and reference cosmological phenomena like quasars, blackholes, and supernovas. I also use macrocrystalline glazes as a reference to the growth and development of life and galaxies. I found comfort in the vastness of the universe and the rules that govern it. Through therapeutic practices, I have come to recognize that I also carry that universe within me. I now give myself full permission to be my own
Growing up in poverty pushed me inward, where art became both refuge and revelation. I was hungry in many ways, and art nourished my soul where lived experience fell short. I started working construction and landscaping at a young age to help my family financially. Through working, I developed a relationship with natural materials that built my confidence. My first experiences with clay were days knee deep in mud working to remove trees or digging trenches for fence posts. I found a connection with clay where it has a history of its own and the potential to be shaped into something new and meaningful, something like me. These experiences led to technical skill-building and in high school I found myself gravitating toward a familiar material, clay. I built a pottery studio in my parents basement, and I would work some nights until the sun came up. I created a substantial body of work that allowed me to attend the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. For the first time, I had access to a supportive environment where I could grow, experiment, and express myself. This foundation shaped both my artistic voice and my commitment to pursuing art as a lifelong practice. After graduating I took a job assisting at a pottery studio, selling my work, and taking on commissions. Money was tight, but I wasn't going to give up!
My dedication provided me with the experience to take on the role of Lead Mold Maker at Felt+Fat, a ceramic tableware manufacturing company. There, I learned how to make plaster and silicone molds for slipcasting from 3D printed models, and molds for a hydraulic press. I later transitioned into the role of Ceramic Technician at an aerospace engineering company, Coherent. Collaborating with engineers in research and development introduced me to rigorous testing, precision, and data-driven experimentation. This experience fundamentally reshaped my understanding of ceramics and expanded what I consider possible within my work. These experiences continue to shape my approach to ceramics as both an expressive and experimental discipline.