Cale Kennedy is a ceramic artist and organic farmer. When he’s not working in his home studio or creating at Paonia Clayworks, he can be found in his market-farm garden, running irrigation, harvesting vegetables, or managing the wash station. He draws energy from the dynamic relationship between soil, clay, and their intersection as an art form. His earth-centric style is inspired by the connections between cultivating food in the region’s heavy clay soils and shaping clay into elegant yet functional pottery. Kennedy’s work is contemporary yet grounded, intentional yet approached organically in glazing—ensuring that no two pieces are ever exactly alike.
After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2008, Cale Kennedy explored a variety of art-related paths, including teaching art to children, running a paint-your-own pottery studio, and creating his own work. Without having yet found a niche or the financial stability he desired, he eventually took a nine-to-five office job at a major telecom company. Finding this chapter unfulfilling, in 2016 he and his wife left Denver for Colorado’s rugged, rural western slope to start an organic vegetable and flower farm. Having discovered the joy of growing food for themselves and their community, Kennedy naturally returned to his pottery roots, creating timeless, classic pieces that harmonize functionally and aesthetically with farm life.
