In the Studio with Kalya O'Donoghue
We recently had the pleasure of visiting Kalya O'Donoghue's Brooklyn studio. Kalya describes her work as a fusion of art and chemistry, where she meticulously explores the alchemy of glazes to create uniquely textured ceramic pieces. "I break my glazes down to their chemical fundamentals and rebuild them because each piece deserves its own story," she explains. Her studio was incredibly inspiring, offering us a deeper connection to her process. We asked her some questions and gained valuable insights into her breathtaking creative journey.
Our Q&A with Kalya:
What was your main source of inspiration for designing/choosing your studio?
Windows and proximity to water were my priorities when choosing my Brooklyn studio. I chose the space with the best light. I love my view of the Statue of Liberty and the sunset. I also shoot all my work in natural light so having the windows for photography is incredibly important.Â
What does a day in your studio look like?Â
Some days I’m throwing. Those are the most physically demanding days. I’ve been throwing larger pots so that means wedging and throwing 8lbs of clay many times in a day. Some days I’m mixing fresh vats of my signature glazes. There’s always a few test glazes either a new idea or a revision of one of my signature glazes that end up making it into the batch.Â
 Esme in Crawl |
 Esme in Lava |
Do you have any studio must haves? A podcast? Playlist? Snacks?Â
Tea, chocolate chips, audiobooks, and podcasts keep me going through the day. Ceramics is physical labor so I trick myself into drinking more water by having a library of teas. My favorites are lavender mint and roasted dandelion.Â
What time of day is most productive for you in your studio?
Sunset is my favorite time to be in studio. Even though I get distracted watching and photographing the shadows of my plants moving along the pots in the hot pink light. I get rejuvenated. Even if I'm having a bad day it makes me fall in love with my work again. That's the key to being productive in the long term, falling in love, and seeing your own work in new lights.Â
We are so intrigued by your method for creating your textured, layered, and truly unique ceramic pieces. :) How did you originally gain inspiration for your pieces/the process?
People often think that I place every bead of glaze but I don’t. I apply the glaze by pouring or dipping the pots, then the glaze chemistry does everything else. I utilize the chemistry and application methods to manipulate the glazes to crack, crawl, and bubble, creating intricate textures. Textures that are truly one of a kind and unable to be crafted by a human hand.Â
Many artists and creators consider the place where they create just as important as the final artwork. Do you find that your studio is a haven that inspires you to produce your best work? Why or why not?
Absolutely. I founded my studio in a shed on the ocean. During covid, I moved into my family's house on the south shore of Mass. That's where I took my studio full-time and where I established my glaze library. It’s where every piece I make lives. Whether or not they ever touch the ocean I feel like each piece comes from being washed up onto the shore of that beach. I still spend a lot of time in that shed during the summer. Most of the pieces for this LES collection were created there.
Â
 Esme in Pearl Froth |
 Cindy Dish in Lava |
How would you describe your artistic style in a few words?Â
Classic forms with biomorphic textures.
Your pieces are truly unique and add a timeless beauty to a space. Besides ceramics, what other materials are you curious about bringing into your studio and exploring?
My dream studio includes a metal shop and forge. Metal and clay move exactly the same way. Metal just needs to be really hot in order to push it around. I use some steel in my work now but I’d love to dive even further into it. I like utilizing steel in a decorative jewel-like way and having the ceramic be the sturdy core structure.Â
Do you find inspiration in nature or every-day world that you feel transforms your art? What are those muses?
My inspiration comes from the textures of tidepools and the movement of the tide. Periwinkle-coated rocks and blankets of seaweed undulating in the tide. Especially the industrial waterfront where steel chains corrode in the salt and the bobbing buoys are crusted in barnacles.Â
 Esme in Crawl Metallic |
 Esme in Froth |
Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about your studio and process?
In my previous career, I was a furniture and lighting designer for architects, interior designers, and high-end lighting/furniture manufacturers. That crafted my understanding of how all the elements of a project come together to create a space that is truly comfortable to live in. It’s within the layers of texture and function mixed with stories that make a space truly alive. That’s why my pieces are focused on function and quality along with having the sense of being alive and ability to mingle with the other elements of their environment.Â
