Jacqueline Kaplan

Bio

Jacqueline Kaplan was born and raised in Kansas City. She attended University of Puget Sound in Tacoma Washington for two years where she studied a diverse range of subjects. After refocusing she began her dedicated practice in ceramics, spending countless hours at the wheel, and taking classes at local studios. She recently graduated from Johnson County Community College with her associate’s degree and esthetics certificate. While a full time student, she began developing her artistic style and opened her online shop at the end of 2020. She currently volunteers and teaches at the KC Clay Guild, creating and selling her own work while working part-time as a makeup artist. She enjoys connecting with people, whether that be through makeup, teaching pottery classes, or volunteering at the KCCG. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her partner, playing board games, and aquascaping her shrimp tanks.

Artist Statement

Through working with clay I am able to center myself and give my subconscious a safe space to flourish. I want my work to radiate energy as it is where I place my own. With physical labor, bright colors, and intuitive designs, I intend to spark curiosity. I want to make people happy and transport them into a moment of sophisticated adolescence through functional artwork. 

The textures are meant to be played with, and my designs invite others to explore this through connecting the figures to tell a story. I have been working over the last two years to develop characters, shapes, textures, techniques and color palettes for pieces, which I view as a product of healing. As I continue to create and overcome internal obstacles, the more my maximalist approach refines and reinvents itself. While every mug has a unique display of motifs, my goal is to stimulate similar feelings throughout my body of work. My mugs are a true representation of me, how I aspire to feel, and encapsulate the energy I hope to radiate.