Ceramic Art and Design with Kala

Kala is a ceramic artist, designer, and educator. She began working with her hands at a young age, growing up on a quaint farm, and quickly fell in love with the pure tactile potential of clay. She has a reverence for traditional craft traditions while embracing new art technologies and methodologies. Throughout her 22 years of working with clay, she has accumulated a comprehensive understanding of the chemistry of materials, firing, and forming techniques.

Her innovative mold making and casting techniques are the most well-known aspects of her work. However, her studio practice encompasses a vast range of forming and firing techniques since most of the work is custom designed for clients and collectors. Concepts for a project help determine the types of clay she uses, and forming choices include mold making, slip casting, throwing, slab building, coiling, or sculptural techniques.

Her approach in the studio is to experiment, problem-solve, and refine systems for efficient fabrication to create a successful end product while having a lot of fun along the way! She is inspired by the natural world around her, the exchange of new ideas, and collaborative projects that challenge her to expand her thinking and ways of making.

When you meet Kala, it is contagious to see her joy for teaching and sharing with others, whether it is food or working in the studio, traveling, or learning.