Kara Kyle Ceramics
About me:
Hi, I’m Kara, a small batch ceramic artist based out of State College, Pa. I graduated with my BFA in ceramics from Penn State in 2004 and have had my hands in clay for 20 years. As an undergrad I meandered through a series of majors before falling softly into art. For the first time in my life I felt the earth beneath my feet and an alchemy of energy that had always worked against me, began to work for me. Realizing quickly after graduation that I didn’t have the self-discipline or the financial cushion to be a full time artist, I made a sharp turn and forged very different albeit incredibly meaningful career path as a Speech & Language Pathologist. Over the years I worked out of community art studios a few hours a week, giving lip service to the dream that I’d someday do both part-time, but unsure if I actually meant it. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off from my job as an SLP and found myself with an abundance of free time so I bought a kiln and threw together a small studio in our basement. My intention was to make as I felt like it and stop when I didn’t. I casually began to list pots online and before I knew it, I found myself, delightfully, at the helm of a one-woman business that was never intended to be.
About my products:
I’m enamored by organic forms and memory and this translates throughout my body of work. I gravitate towards undulating rims, visible seems, texture, and a little wonk. I’m inspired by botany, aged things, and creating pieces that appear both faded and fresh and it is intentional that my pieces tell a story of being made by hand. I consider myself to primarily be a hand-builder who sometimes uses the wheel and my workflow is loose and intuitive, whenever possible. I prefer small batch pottery to production and revel in the process; one-offs are where I find the most joy! All of my pieces are functional and have an eclectic aesthetic. My current body of work includes a lot of 22k gold luster! I’m not great about updating inventory on my website and sell mostly in-person and at a few local businesses. Please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram if I post anything that makes your heart sing!