Artist Bio & Statement

Bio:

Kara Thomas is a ceramic artist with over 15 years of experience working with clay. Originally from Alpena, MI, she relocated to Detroit in 2010 to pursue her passion for ceramics at the College for Creative Studies, where she earned her BFA in Ceramics in 2013. Shortly after graduating, Kara began her career as an automotive sculptor for General Motors, a role she continues to hold today.

In 2019, Kara founded Kara Marie Studios, her private ceramic practice, in a refurbished bank in northwest Detroit. Alongside her studio work, she has served on the board of Twist Out Cancer, an art therapy nonprofit, exhibiting her work in galleries across the country through the organization.

In 2024, Kara's work was acquired for the permanent collection at GM Design. She has exhibited in renowned galleries including Red Lodge Clay Center, Baltimore Clay Works, CultureVerse, and the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. Most recently, her work was featured in the October 2025 issue of Ceramics Monthly.

Statement:

My work explores the interconnectedness of sacred geometry, human experience, architecture, and spirituality. In a world where the pace of daily life often causes spiritual practices to be overlooked, I use ceramics—both sculptural and functional—to channel the expansive awareness I cultivate in my meditation practice. These meditative states, filled with colorful visions, deepen my connection to nature and heighten my awareness of the ever-changing world around me. The colors, patterns, and motifs that emerge from these visions are embedded in the highly embellished surfaces of my ceramic forms.

At the core of my practice lies the use of color, line, and repetition as tools to translate the vastness of the universe into tangible forms. These elements serve as a documentation of the fleeting moments of awareness, keeping alive the feelings and experiences long after they have passed. 

While embracing change, wholeness, and the unity of all things, my work offers a glimpse into both a larger spiritual realm and my own inner sacred world. Through this, I hope to invite the viewer to reflect on their own place within the universe.

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