STUDIO VISIT:

KALEY FLOWERS + CARSON TEAL

Welcome to the shared studio space of Kaley Flowers, a ceramic artist, and Carson Teal, a multidisciplinary visual artist, in Ontario, Canada.

Inspired by digital technologies, meme culture and online communities, they aims to solidify the nature of the Internet through the permanency of ceramic form and glasswork. Creating both functional and sculptural work, their designs are inspired by materials, alchemical processes, and natural forms.

What’s the weirdest thing in your studio right now?

Probably our hornet’s nest collection, dead insects, dried mushrooms, and last year’s bean pods from the garden.

Describe your workspace in three words.

Chaotic, cozy, tactile.

What’s your go-to studio snack?

Homemade kombucha, espresso, and definitely chips.

What are your studio rituals? 

Our studio space is really small, so when we need a break, we like to go for hikes in the forest or go swimming in the summer. In the winter, it’s more like just making sure the fire is going!

Do you listen to music while you work? If so, what’s on your playlist?

Thankfully, we like the same music (mostly)! We rotate between experimental ambient, psy, garage, hyperpop, R&B- whatever SoundCloud mix we’ve been into lately.  We are also big into YouTube and the odd podcast.

If we opened your drawers, what would we find?

Carson collects a lot of random little bits- metal, minerals, broken jewelry, and other found materials. Kaley has a sizable stash of broken ceramic and glass pieces, convinced everything will eventually be repurposed into something new.

What’s the best thing that ever happened in your studio?

Anytime we look outside and see wildlife it can be really exciting.  There are a ton of the usual little forest animals like birds and snakes and raccoons but we also sometimes encounter foxes, bald eagles, black bears, and once the cutest tiny owl. We also have a flying squirrel living in a birdhouse beside our door that we get to see at night :)

What are you currently working on?

We both have a bunch of projects on the go, for our own work and collaborative pieces. Right now, that includes stained glass collages with etched mirrors, lamps and lighting, jewelry, and a special large commission piece. There are always half-finished ideas lying around, waiting for their time.

Has your studio setup changed over time, or do you thrive in the same environment?

Over the past two years, we’ve been slowly transforming an old busted shed into a (very small) livable workshop and tiny home- it’s an ongoing project. We still have a ton of work to do, but it’s constantly evolving as we build more storage and make small improvements. I think it will be a long time before it’s just right.

If you could steal one famous designer’s studio setup, whose would it be?

Our dream is to eventually have more room to be able to have dedicated workspaces across multiple mediums like metal, glass, ceramics, and an enclosed outdoor woodshop.  We would love extra space to accommodate larger, more specialized equipment and a dedicated area for photography.  We are really inspired by the studios and practices of artists like Chen Chen & Kai Williams, Misha Kahn, and David Altmejd. 

Shop the collection below