Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brin Steeves. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Creating custom urns and memorials is by far the most meaningful projects I create. As someone who has been shaped by loss and grief, I don’t take these requests for granted. It’s an extremely vulnerable process to tell a stranger about your late loved one and trust that they’ll make a vessel that feels right. Over the years, I’ve made around 50 urns for friends, parents, partners, and pets—and I’ve had a little cry during every single one. It’s an honor to hold space for my customers’ grief and build a final resting place that represents lives well lived.

Brin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a queer multidisciplinary artist based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I spend my days making art and running my business, Oil & Birch! My primary artistic medium is ceramics, but in recent years, I’ve been dabbling in graphic design, printmaking, and upcycling thrifted clothing. 2025 marks ten years of working with clay and vending at markets! My artwork is recognized for its bold, alternative designs and messages of harm reduction, compassion, and queerness. I like to describe my style of pottery as “strengths-based ceramics” because it celebrates my customers’ identities and superpowers. All of my pottery is painted freehand, with no help from stencils or transfers. My linework and words are done using a carving technique called Sgraffito, which means “to scratch.” I love creating one-of-a-kind pots, each one a unique labor of love.

Before becoming a full-time artist, I was a social worker walking alongside brilliant youth in Edmonton’s inner city. Our community often faced complex trauma, grief, addiction, poverty, homelessness, and abuse. My role as an outreach social worker involved building trusting relationships, advocating, and responding to crises. Years later, I became the head of the Visual Art Studio, where I created a safe studio space for self-expression and emotional exploration. I developed and led therapeutic workshops for young artists and encouraged play within the arts.

The decision to become a self-employed artist was not a long-awaited dream. In fact, I had never imagined this path for myself until I met my partner, Jake. He encouraged me to become my own boss, as I was experiencing burnout as a helper. I took the leap in January 2020, just a couple of months before the COVID-19 pandemic took over the world. Though my time in the inner city was incredibly stressful and heartbreaking, it was also filled with immense joy and love. I’m deeply grateful for everyone I crossed paths with during those eight years. Becoming self-employed during COVID was not for the faint of heart. I spent the first six months of my new career wondering if I could get my old job back! But it taught me to pivot, as I moved from in-person markets to a fully web-based business.

Five years later, I’m still here, with so much to be proud of. I opened and operated a downtown clay studio for three years, designed a successful clothing brand, and traveled across Canada vending at markets. I’ve raised funding for local harm reduction outreach teams and built so many beautiful connections with fellow artists. Being a small business owner has been the most challenging and rewarding journey of my life. I’ve worked harder than ever before and spent many nights questioning how much longer I could sustain the grind. With inflation, a trade war, and much more fighting against small businesses, the future is unclear. But I know that my relationship with art will never end, regardless of whether it pays my bills or not!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

There are so many ways folks can support creatives! Love something you see online? Share it to your story, or send the artist a DM and tell them what you love about their work. Every online artist is fighting against the ever-changing algorithm beasts, and a comment or “like” goes a long way!

Need a gift for an upcoming holiday? Shop at a local market or craft sale! Not only are you putting money directly in the pockets of local creatives (who likely shop at local supply stores), but you also have an opportunity to connect with the artist face-to-face. Meeting supporters at markets fills up my creative cup. I love hearing about your pottery collection or your favorite mug!

Finally, don’t use AI art! Need a poster for an upcoming event, a logo design for your company, or a custom portrait of your fur baby? Pay. Real. Artists.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my goals as an artists is to share my knowledge or encourage EVERYONE to try ceramics! That is one of the driving forces behind my pottery workshops! There is enough space in this craft for anyone who wants to try it out. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the generosity of other potters who took the time to answer questions, brainstorm solutions and offer their hard earned tips to a new ceramicist.
The only way this art form has continued across cultures for over 20,000 years is by sharing and teaching, and I’m thrilled to be apart of that legacy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oilandbirch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oilandbirch
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oilandbirch
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits

Naomi Caufield

Brennan Roy