The Studio

Making ceramics is a magical process—a transformation through force and heat, materials combining and reacting. Time is key in this process, and it unfurls in multiple directions. There is the personal time of the steps and stages required to create a vessel out of clay, the tactile, intimate time. The waiting, the not ready yet, the too late, and the perfect moment caught. And, in contrast, there’s the slow scrape of historical time. As an ancient craft, this process connects to the cultural origins of humanity. 

In my own history, as far as I can remember I have always loved making things and been mesmerized and inspired by color and pattern. I learned and continue to carry the tradition of quilt making from my grandmothers —needlework and sewing from my mom. My aunt gave me my first lessons with clay and my sister’s passion for drawing and photography fueled my interest in art. I studied drawing and sculpture, eventually earning a master’s degree where I worked with video and sound installation. Through my path of exploring form and media I maintained an interest in connection to nature, sensitive expression of color, and creating an intimate connection between my work and the space it lives in. 

The (re)turn to ceramics was a pendulum swing back to material with the intention of generosity and usefulness in my production. Caitlin Ducey Ceramic Design was established in 2024 as a container for explorations at  the intersection of contemporary design and traditional craft. I currently live and work in New York City*, and am ever inspired by my west coast roots. My studio is dedicated to harmony, experimentation, and beauty. 

*New York City is located on Lenapehoking, the stolen, ancestral lands of the Lenape. This is an acknowledgment of gratitude for the land and the people who stewarded it for generations, as well as the continued violence of settler colonialism.