Bio
Karly Kennedy grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Clay was a part of her life early on with art center classes and in highschool. It was here, under the guidance of her beloved ceramics teacher, Stephanie York, that she knew clay would forever be a part of her life.
Not following the typical educational timeline, she spent a number of years working alongside great mentors, Jessica Gardner (Northern Virginia Community College) and Marianne Mcgrath (California State University Channel Islands). Though not knowing it at the time, it was these women - mothers and practicing ceramic artists - who would inspire and shape the artist that she’d become. Especially once she became a mother herself.
Karly is now a studio technician at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia where she also maintains her studio practice.
Statement
Born from a love of ornamentation and ritual, my work revolves around the creation of sculptural vessels for the home and lightweight ceramic jewelry for adornment. Both forms share a common thread: the act of curating and intentionally shaping space.
Drawing inspiration from the objects I interact with everyday, I use slab, pinch, and coil building techniques to craft my sculptures. What may initially appear as a simple or ordinary form is often repeated, stacked, and stretched, resulting in a rich variety of compositions. These variations are a reflection of my ongoing curiosity and the desire to explore how even the most familiar objects can take on new meaning when reimagined.
My process is guided by both experimentation and the fortunate access I have to diverse firing styles and material sourcing. As a result, my surfaces are ever-evolving — some smooth, some textured, some glazed, and others left raw. Each surface treatment is an exploration of contrast and harmony, enhancing the visual and tactile experience of the pieces.
Ultimately, my work is a celebration of the small, intimate moments of daily life —whether through the act of wearing jewelry or selecting a vessel to place in one’s home. I aim to invite reflection, beauty, and a sense of connection through the objects we choose to surround ourselves with.