Kristen was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Fresno, California. She started her undergrad work as a political science major and walk-on athlete at the University of Pittsburgh, and later graduated from the Art Center College of Design (BFA Illustration) with a strong interest in product design. She worked in sportswear for three and a half years, which took her to Portland, Oregon, NYC, and Boston, MA. Early during her time on the east coast, she began exploring ceramics as a tool for personal creativity and enjoyment. It quickly evolved into her primary medium while the lockdown gave her an unprecedented opportunity to think.

Kristen is currently building a relationship with a black clay body, thinking about topics such as beauty and adornment, identity and signifiers, as well as history. Kristen believes that the clay body has asked her to take time to learn its nature, “It has an ilmenite grog and absorbs many glaze materials, maintaining its dark color or not showing the glaze material at all.” Kristen said, “I have had to experiment with my glaze applications and firing temperatures to arrive at a result that would allow its natural allure to remain.”

Drawing and image research is still a part of Kristen’s process when dealing with form, she is looking at shapes in jewelry, fabric, and hairstyles across the African diaspora, imitating silhouettes in my sketchbook. Her work is both spiritually intuitive and measured; the facial features are not from any specific reference, but rather about familiarity and an appreciation for the beauty in a Black face—while building the bases and rings provide me with a challenge to be more calculated and attempt to be precise.

Kristen believes that the functionality of the vessel as a vase offers a participatory element, where the holder of her work can finish the artwork and create a conversation about hair that she enjoys, “I continue to leave room for inquiry while I persist with developing and broadening my technical skill.”