Eve Krahn

Bio

Eve Krahn is a self-taught ceramic artist known for hand-built sculptural forms that blend function with raw, natural beauty. Her glazes incorporate wild foraged rocks and clays, drawing from a deep connection to the textures and tones of the earth. Raised between New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Western Australia—following her father, a mineral exploration geologist—her early exposure to rugged landscapes continues to shape her work. Her work embraces imperfection as a reflection of the natural world and the human condition.

She has participated in workshops with Studio Alluvium and Akira Satake. She has also been a multimedia visual artist and is a pediatrician practicing part-time. Eve lives and works in Kansas City with her husband and three daughters. Her work is available at the Kemper Museum Shop, Mergers Shop, and Blackbird Collection in Kansas City. 

Artist Statement

My artistic journey is rooted in capturing the dynamic relationship between clay and rock, reflecting the raw, imperfect beauty of the natural world.

Growing up, I was immersed in the outdoors and a rich tapestry of cultures. My father, an exploration mineral geologist, moved our family across various landscapes - from Papua New Guinea to New Zealand and Western Australia. Holidays were spent in the Philippines, my mother's homeland. These diverse environments became the foundation of my creative inspiration.

In my ceramics, I explore the harmony and tension between stoneware, foraged clay, ash from various plants, and minerals in rocks such as basalt, granite, and feldspar. I celebrate the natural imperfections, textures, cracks, and irregularities, allowing them to shape the final piece.

Rather than perceiving these anomalies as flaws, I embrace them as unique imprints of the material's journey, each telling a story of its own.

My lifelong exposure to the beauty and embedded history of rocks has drawn me to incorporate them into my ceramics not just for their aesthetic appeal, but also as an exploration of sustainability. How are naturally occurring minerals processed into the uniform white powders that potters use for glazes? What waste or pollution is generated in this transformation? Can we use organic materials that retain more character rather than relying on commercially extracted ones? Each piece I create is an experiment, a way to understand how these layers interact and evolve together.

Living life at a fast pace, I am grateful for the meditative nature of working with clay. This practice demands slowness, intentionality, and a deep connection to the materials, allowing me to absorb the essence of each moment.

My goal is to create more than just visually compelling pieces. I seek to offer a multi-sensory experience. I want those who engage with my ceramics to feel the essence of the materials, to sense the histories embedded within them, and to connect with humanity in their raw, imperfect forms. Each piece is a tangible link to the earth's beauty and the stories it holds.

Exhibitions