Artist Bio & Statement

Twist out Cancer artist and board member Kara Thomas has been working with clay for the past 14 years. Shortly after completing her undergraduate degree from College for Creative Studies in 2013, she began her career working as an automotive sculptor for General Motors. She is currently creating artwork in her pottery studio located in a refurbished bank in Northwest Detroit.

Inspiration for Kara’s work stems from historic alchemical imagery. Using the language and symbolism of alchemy to explore the world has allowed for her to discover meaning in nature. Drawing off a source that is beyond her own existence and what she considers to be cosmic, Kara's artwork is representative of visions and feelings that come to her during various forms of meditation. These visions then often take the form of functional ceramic objects, sculpture, and tessellating patterns.

Kara looks for parallels between nature transitions and human experience. The imagery on her highly embellished surfaces draws from these parallels. In her work, the evolving female figure can be seen alongside depictions of seasonal shifts and phases of the moon. Embracing change and feeling a universal wholeness, Kara’s work aspires to expand perspectives and uses worldly designs to create a sense of unity.