We were lucky to catch up with Karyn Gabriel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karyn, thanks for 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.

During my sophomore year of college, I decided to shift my focus from political science to art. However, when I stepped into my first art seminars, the blank canvas felt intimidating. I was young and uncertain of my voice. Seeking a path with more structure, I turned to interior architecture, graphic design, and product design—fields that blend creativity with problem-solving and found a home. That home led to a vibrant twenty-five year career in architectural design.

Yet all the while, there was an itch.

I longed to be a maker, to get dirty in materials and translate ideas and experiences into a personal visual language.
After 15 years of wondering whether I was in the ‘right’ field, I took a leap. I left my job and returned to school full-time to study sculpture. Instead of lingering in self doubt, I chose to ‘walk the talk’, showing myself and my young son, what it means to pursue a passion purely for the joy and challenge it brings, without worrying about what comes next.. It took another 10 years to actually step back from my architectural career and become a full time studio artist. But taking that risk taught me to trust my instincts—and ultimately led to the thriving studio practice I have today.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a ceramic artist based in the San Francisco Bay Area, creating sculptural objects and wall installations that explore structure and patterns shaped by the urban landscape, natural systems and even textile design.

My journey into ceramics began with a career in architectural design. I studied architecture and art, earning a BFA in Interior Architecture from the University of Michigan. Drawing on my extensive design background, I use repetition and modularity to explore the tension between rhythm and chaos, creating structurally complex constructions that reveal the raw beauty of minimal forms.

I see pattern as a visual language, a way to navigate and make sense of a complex world. We naturally seek connections between objects, people and even fleeting moments, to make sense our surroundings. Often, these patterns are so subtle they go unnoticed, yet we feel their continuity, like an unbroken thread just beneath the surface. Revealing this connective tissue between form and its surroundings fuels my practice.

Since beginning my art practice in 2018, I have exhibited throughout California and the western United States. Transitioning from architecture to art has been an incredibly rewarding journey, allowing me to share curiosity and, I hope, leave a touch of beauty in the world.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The ability to craft my daily life and work within a community I value is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist / entrepreneur. Sharing my work can feel risky – it’s a direct reflection of who I am, my beliefs and interpretation of the world around me. Yet, learning to be vulnerable allows for new relationships to bloom and a major reason I work in the creative community.

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

Creating with my hands is the most meaningful way for me to express what it means to be human. Art touches a place within where words fall short and new ideas have a chance to grow. Leaving my mark in a tangible, physical form is both exhilarating and risky, yet, deeply empowering. Through my work, I aim to share the power of creativity, inviting the viewer to linger with curiosity and find wonder in this moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karyngabriel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kgabrielstudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-gabriel-744ab2a/

Image Credits

Photos 1, 2, 3, 4 – John Janca
Photos, 5, 6, 7, 8 – by artist