The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What role does color play in your work?
Jaden Estes Carlson: Color plays an essential role in my work, acting as both a point of contrast and a tool for storytelling. My ceramic surfaces often feature bold, loose geometric patterns accentuated by rich, colorful tones and earthy
terra sigillata. This contrast reflects the duality I’m always exploring, where vulnerability and resilience, structure and fluidity, exist side by side. I also see color as a way to invite viewers into the work. A bright pop of yellow or a
soft blue can draw people in, giving them an approachable entry point into more complex themes.
1 Jaden Estes Carlson's Impressions of Pattern No. 1, 6 in. (15.2 cm) in height, terra cotta, terra sigillata, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 04 in oxidation, 2024.
CM: What do you see as the current trends in ceramics and how do you respond to them?
JEC: One of the most important ways I respond to trends, whether they are aesthetic, technical, or conceptual, is to stay curious. I try to stay aware of the conversations happening in ceramics by engaging with the larger dialog around
what clay can be. Trends come and go, but each one reveals something about what makers are questioning, valuing, or challenging at any given time. Makers have always pushed materials to do things they were never expected to do, and that spirit of
discovery and reinvention is still at the heart of ceramics today. Whether building on tradition or breaking every rule, the act of making itself will always keep the conversation moving forward.
2 Jaden Estes Carlson's Quilted Vessel No. 1, 11 in. (27.9 cm) in height, terra cotta, terra sigillata, underglaze, glaze, fired to cone 04 in oxidation, 2024.
CM: What role do you think makers play within today’s culture? How do you think you contribute?
JEC: Makers play an important role in today’s culture as both storytellers and documentarians, capturing personal experiences, social moments, and cultural shifts through their work. Beyond that, making also serves a quieter, personal
purpose. Whether someone is making to advocate for a cause, sort through emotions, or simply find a sense of calm, the act itself holds power. There is something undeniably human about creating, and that experience connects us.
For me, making has always been a way to navigate my own thoughts and push back against expectations. It gives me space to be fully present and in control. That belief in the transformative power of making shapes how I contribute. Whether I am teaching
in a classroom or talking with friends, I encourage everyone in my life to make something, no matter what it is or how good it turns out. I have seen firsthand how much it can shift your perspective, lighten your mood, or give you a sense of pride
you did not know you needed. If I contribute anything, it is the belief that making belongs to everyone and that the simple act of creating something with your own hands can be enough.
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The audio file for this article was produced by the Ceramic Arts Network staff and not read by the author.
Ceramics Monthly: What role does color play in your work?
Jaden Estes Carlson: Color plays an essential role in my work, acting as both a point of contrast and a tool for storytelling. My ceramic surfaces often feature bold, loose geometric patterns accentuated by rich, colorful tones and earthy terra sigillata. This contrast reflects the duality I’m always exploring, where vulnerability and resilience, structure and fluidity, exist side by side. I also see color as a way to invite viewers into the work. A bright pop of yellow or a soft blue can draw people in, giving them an approachable entry point into more complex themes.
CM: What do you see as the current trends in ceramics and how do you respond to them?
JEC: One of the most important ways I respond to trends, whether they are aesthetic, technical, or conceptual, is to stay curious. I try to stay aware of the conversations happening in ceramics by engaging with the larger dialog around what clay can be. Trends come and go, but each one reveals something about what makers are questioning, valuing, or challenging at any given time. Makers have always pushed materials to do things they were never expected to do, and that spirit of discovery and reinvention is still at the heart of ceramics today. Whether building on tradition or breaking every rule, the act of making itself will always keep the conversation moving forward.
CM: What role do you think makers play within today’s culture? How do you think you contribute?
JEC: Makers play an important role in today’s culture as both storytellers and documentarians, capturing personal experiences, social moments, and cultural shifts through their work. Beyond that, making also serves a quieter, personal purpose. Whether someone is making to advocate for a cause, sort through emotions, or simply find a sense of calm, the act itself holds power. There is something undeniably human about creating, and that experience connects us.
For me, making has always been a way to navigate my own thoughts and push back against expectations. It gives me space to be fully present and in control. That belief in the transformative power of making shapes how I contribute. Whether I am teaching in a classroom or talking with friends, I encourage everyone in my life to make something, no matter what it is or how good it turns out. I have seen firsthand how much it can shift your perspective, lighten your mood, or give you a sense of pride you did not know you needed. If I contribute anything, it is the belief that making belongs to everyone and that the simple act of creating something with your own hands can be enough.
Learn more at jadenestescarlson.com.
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