We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brooke Herzing. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brooke below.

Brooke , appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Risk-taking is never easy, especially when the stakes are high. For me, it meant uprooting my life, stepping into the unknown, and facing an onslaught of challenges head-on. After the birth of my daughter, Kasper, I realized how important it was to live authentically and pursue what mattered most to me. Becoming a mother shifted my perspective and gave me the courage to chase a goal I had held close to my heart for years: earning a master’s degree in fine art.

This was not a decision I made lightly, nor one supported by those around me. My family questioned the need for further education, voicing concerns about financial strain, the challenges of raising a child, and the practicality of it all. My husband at the time was even less supportive. He reluctantly agreed to move but made it clear he wouldn’t contribute financially toward the relocation or my education.

Despite the doubts and lack of encouragement, I knew I had to move forward. My education and my future were worth fighting for. I began saving every penny I could, taking on two jobs to cover expenses while dedicating my limited free time to strengthening my portfolio and completing my graduate school applications. The process was grueling. I spent late nights working on my applications, waking early to care for Kasper, and squeezing in studio time whenever I could. There were days I felt overwhelmed and exhausted, but I reminded myself constantly: where there’s a will, there’s a way.

The moment I received the acceptance email from Cranbrook Academy of Art—a top ceramics program in the country—was a pivotal turning point. My efforts had paid off, and I was determined to seize the opportunity. With no time to hesitate, I rented a small two-bedroom house in Pontiac, Michigan, sight unseen. I packed up our lives in Seattle and set out on the cross-country journey to Michigan.

The move itself tested my resolve. What should have been an exciting new beginning became a grueling week-long drive. Along the way, my 1978 Bronco broke down in the Idaho desert, and I had to leave it behind. My Ford Focus, already unreliable, also gave out, forcing me to purchase a used 2007 bright orange Chevy Aveo. It wasn’t long before that car broke down as well—ironically, on my way to orientation. Yet even these setbacks didn’t deter me. Each obstacle reaffirmed my commitment to my goal.

Shortly after we arrived in Michigan, life threw yet another curveball. My husband decided to call it quits, making me a single mother while navigating the demands of a rigorous full-time graduate program. I was terrified. My income was limited to a part-time job that paid just $11 an hour, and my savings began to dwindle rapidly. Rent, childcare, car payments, and basic necessities became overwhelming burdens. There were sleepless nights when I worried about how I would make ends meet and countless moments when I wondered if I had made the right decision.

But I refused to give up. I stretched every dollar and found ways to make it work. By summer, I was fortunate to secure a full-time position through my work-study job, which offered some financial stability. The relief was palpable, though I knew the challenges were far from over.

As fall semester approached, I had to make difficult choices. I took out additional loans to cover expenses and took on yet another job as a ceramics technician to support Kasper and myself. Balancing my studies, work, and motherhood required relentless focus and determination. Thankfully, I found support in my peers. My cohort at Cranbrook embraced me and my journey, offering encouragement and understanding. Many days, I brought Kasper into the studio when childcare fell through. While these moments were chaotic, they also reinforced my sense of purpose and showed my daughter the value of perseverance.

The road was anything but easy. There were tears, sleepless nights, and moments of self-doubt. But there were also triumphs. Every completed project, every assignment turned in, and every milestone Kasper and I reached together became a testament to our resilience. My bond with my daughter grew stronger as we navigated these challenges side by side.

Today, I look back on that time with immense gratitude. The risk I took wasn’t just about earning a degree—it was about proving to myself that I could overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting. It was about creating a life I could be proud of and showing Kasper that dreams are worth chasing, even when they come with hardship.

Now, my decision to take that leap has blossomed into something even greater. My art career in Michigan is taking off, and my practice is thriving. I’ve had the opportunity to showcase my work, connect with the artistic community, and grow both personally and professionally. The struggles I endured shaped the artist I am today, and I’m deeply grateful for the growth they brought.

Embarking on this journey showed me that taking risks is a necessary part of personal growth. It wasn’t easy, but it allowed me to discover new strengths and possibilities I hadn’t imagined. One of the most important lessons I learned is that women, especially mothers, don’t need anyone’s permission to pursue their dreams. Too often, we feel obligated to justify our choices or seek approval from others, but our ambitions and desires are valid on their own.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Brooke Herzing, a ceramic artist, sculptor, and lighting designer based in Michigan. My work focuses on blending functionality with fine art, using raw ceramic surfaces, bold volcano glazes, and intricate patterns I call “ticks.” I create both domestic objects, like porcelain lighting and sinks, and conceptual sculptures that explore identity, materiality, and emotional narratives.

Growing up in a small rural town in Pennsylvania, art became my sanctuary and an outlet during challenging times. After high school, I followed my passion to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I fell in love with ceramics and committed fully to the medium. In 2023, I completed my MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art, where I honed my technical skills and expanded my sculptural practice.

Today, my work has been exhibited in galleries across the U.S. and internationally, including Thrown Contemporary in London. I’m also represented by Embrace Creatives in Detroit, where I continue to explore the intersection of art and design.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is the ability to take what’s in my head and bring it to life. There’s something deeply fulfilling about transforming an abstract idea into something tangible that others can experience.

My studio is my happy place—it’s where everything comes together. I love having visitors come in and interact with my work. Seeing their reactions, hearing their thoughts, and watching how they connect with different pieces is always so energizing.

What I truly love most, though, is when I get to collaborate with them. There’s something magical about the process of bouncing ideas back and forth, drawing inspiration from their vision, and turning it into something real. It’s always fun to see clients pull inspiration from different objects—maybe the form of one piece, the glaze of another—and combine them into something entirely new. That mix of ideas keeps my creativity thriving and makes every collaboration a unique and rewarding experience.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think most artists and creatives can relate to the need for perfection. We’re often our own worst critics, obsessing over every detail of our work to the point of exhaustion. One of the most freeing moments in my art career was learning to let go of expectations. That shift gave me permission to evolve as an artist.

Nothing needs to be perfect. Things crack, pieces blow up in the kiln, and sometimes a glaze turns out completely hideous. Accept it, and throw it out. Honestly, there’s no better sound than ceramic shattering in the dumpster. And if you can’t bear to throw it out, then sit with it. Live with it. Give it time—it might grow on you.

When we hyper-fixate on perfection, we lose sight of the beauty in the process, especially with clay. Clay is malleable, but it also has memory. I’ve found that letting the clay be what it wants to be, rather than forcing it into my vision, leads to much better results. Letting go of control has not only improved my work but also opened up new creative possibilities. It’s a lesson I carry into every piece I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brookeherzing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookeherzingsculpture/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-herzing-182948122

Image Credits

Images are my own.