Artist Biography
Kylee Schadegg enjoys telling people that she worked as a children's science educator for a local museum for three years while she is an undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Ceramics at Colorado Mesa University. While teaching environmental sciences, she connected her passions for forestry, conservation, and social issues to her ceramic work, hoping to spark conversations about humanity's impact on the Earth. Growing up around the mountains of Colorado, her deep connection to nature, particularly trees, profoundly influences her art, inspiring her to explore themes of protection and resiliency in trees. Kylee has been involved with the Colorado Mesa University Clay Club for three years and served as vice president for two of those years. Her work was featured in the Colorado Mesa University Annual Juried Student Art Show, showcasing her love for participating in her community and her dedication to spreading environmental stewardship through art.
Artist Statement
In the delicate dance between humanity and nature, my work explores our interconnected relationship with the natural world, examining the mindful practice of using clay— a medium rooted in nature—to create functional art. My connection with trees fostered through childhood experiences of climbing and playing among them, has profoundly shaped my artistic practice. Trees serve not only as symbols of personal memory but also as vital components of our ecosystem, essential to the survival and well-being of all living things. This enduring relationship with trees informs my work, reflecting both a deep admiration for the natural world and a critical call to protect it.
I carve intricate tree motifs into double-walled teapots, utilizing these vessels to bridge my connection to trees with a broader environmental message. Traditionally associated with nurturing and sustenance, teapots become a metaphor for the life-giving qualities of trees and their crucial role in supporting the natural world. The double-walled construction of teapots symbolizes the layered protection trees provide to our environment, mirroring their essential role in protecting us from the pitfalls of climate change. By integrating detailed tree imagery into this delicate functional form, I am able to dive into deepening my connection to the human, the artistic, and the natural, surrendering myself to a human sense of responsibility toward nature, encouraging viewers to reflect on the importance of preserving forests and maintaining the world around us.