Kass O’Brien

360° Studio Tour

Meet Kass O’Brien! She was born in Erie, PA. One of seven children, she spent her childhood fishing or sailing on Lake Erie. Her mother was a docent at a local art museum and Kass spent her weekday afternoons taking art classes. Her parents had a love for art and filled their walls collecting pieces from local artists. She became active in the art community as a teenager and throughout college, and upon graduation, Kass continued to refine her skills and find her style. Pulling inspiration for her artwork from her surroundings. her artwork initially focused on urban decay, inspired by the steel mills along the Great Lakes where she spent much of her time.

After graduating with a BFA from the Columbus College of Art & Design and an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, ceramist Kass O’Brien began her journey to rediscover herself as an artist. In 1993 Kass moved to Gulf Stream, FL where she taught 20 years to elementary school students. There she rekindled her love of working with clay and since then her ceramic pieces have been inspired by the natural world around her. Whether it is seaweed that has washed ashore or a leaf that has fallen from a tree, she transfers these moments into each piece she creates.