We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsea Biggerstaff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

If I could change one thing about the education system, it would be to shift our focus away from bureaucracy and checking boxes toward helping students understand the why behind what they’re learning. Too often, education gets bogged down in red tape, and students leave classrooms with grades and requirements completed but without a sense of purpose or curiosity.

The most impactful teachers and professors I had always started with the why on day one. They did not just explain content; they connected it to real life, future careers, and personal growth. That clarity of purpose fueled my curiosity and allowed me to imagine myself as part of the future they described.

As a teacher myself, I try to carry this forward. For example, I teach a sculpture class, but I often say I do not just teach clay. I teach my students how to quiet their inner critic, to play, explore, and get inspired by the world around them. When students connect with their creativity in this way, it is not just about making art. It is about building confidence, resilience, and the ability to approach challenges with openness and curiosity. Those are the kinds of skills that prepare students for a fulfilling life and career.

So, the change I would advocate for is simple but powerful: education should always begin with the why and keep returning to it, so that learning is not just about meeting requirements. It is about cultivating curiosity, purpose, and the tools to thrive far beyond the classroom.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Chelsea, an artist, teacher, and community curator. I run a business called Uh Oh by Chelsea, where my tagline is spreading queer joy through handmade ceramics and creative experiences. My work lives at the intersection of art, teaching, and community building. I create functional pottery, sculptural work, and immersive workshops that help people tap into their creativity, quiet their inner critic, and build habits of playful exploration.

I’ve had the privilege of leading workshops for companies like Adobe, institutions of higher learning, and senior living facilities. Whether I’m working with students, professionals, or elders, the heart of my work is always about helping people unblock themselves creatively and reconnect with their imagination.

What sets me apart is that, in addition to my studio practice, I also serve as the Manager for Faculty Development at Austin Community College. In this role, I get to study the art of teaching every day and learn from hundreds of faculty across disciplines ranging from automotive to biology. Those experiences enrich the way I teach and create, giving me a wide-ranging toolkit of practices that make my classes and workshops dynamic, accessible, and impactful.

I’m also a community curator, which means my work is deeply shaped by the subcultures I belong to: the LGBTQ+ community, the sober community, the clay community, and the network of women-owned businesses. Each of these circles informs how I approach creativity, connection, and healing through art.

What I’m most proud of is creating spaces where people feel safe enough to explore, play, and express themselves. I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that Uh Oh by Chelsea is about more than pottery. It is about joy, belonging, and the courage to create without fear.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions people have about creativity is that it is something you are either born with or you are not. In my experience, that simply is not true. I believe we all have the capacity for creativity, but like any other skill, it takes practice, intention, and a willingness to work through blocks.

For many people, those blocks come from limiting beliefs, like the idea that they are “not artistic” or that what they make is not good enough. I have those moments too. When I start to hear my inner critic getting louder, I know it is time to return to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I have read it several times, and I dip in and out of the practices she recommends. Each time, it helps me reset, quiet the self-doubt, and reconnect with why creating matters.

So, the insight I would share is this: creativity is not about being “gifted” or “special.” It is about being willing to show up, to play, to keep practicing, and to give yourself permission to make something imperfect. When we do that, we discover that creativity is not just for a few people. It is for all of us.

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

The mission driving my creative journey is to help people say goodbye to the voice in their head that is mean to them and hello to the present moment. I want my work to create space for play, curiosity, and creating without fear. Whether it is through my ceramics, my teaching, or my workshops, my goal is to guide people back to that childlike freedom where making something is joyful and not judged.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uhohbychelsea/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-biggerstaff-a3678852