Alumna Returns to Toledo to Cultivate Community, Create Art
Wanting to explore her passion for art in a close, collaborative community, Kayla Kirk, ’17, ’17 knew that studying fine art at The University of Toledo would provide her with the experience she needed. Now, less than a decade later, Kirk is bringing that community back a little closer to home by providing a space for others to experience art as she does.
Quickly exhausting her options for art classes available, Kirk was excited to explore her love of creating even further. “At The University of Toledo, I got to explore every medium from metal casting to printmaking, getting the chance to really find and develop my voice as an artist,” Kirk said.
After graduation, she found herself at Detroit’s historic Pewabic Pottery as a production potter and educator, until she and her business partner, Ryan Thompson, were approached with an exciting offer. The former owners of Gathered Glassblowing, Adam Goldberg and Mike Stevens, hoped to pass the torch to the pair, allowing Thompson to carry on the glass tradition and Kirk to expand into ceramics. Huron Street Studios quickly came to life and Kirk’s Charmed Ceramics was within reach.
Starting to Move
After months of preparation and moving equipment from Detroit to Toledo, Kirk launched Charmed Ceramics at Huron Street Studios in August 2024. “For a while, I felt like I was shouting into the void,” said Kirk but after posting on Instagram and fostering strong, local connections, Kirk finally started to see her efforts returning. “Eventually the word got out and Toledo showed up,” Kirk shared of the experience.
Kirk brings magic to the mundane, not only through her own work but in her ability to lead students into their own creativity. Providing moments for people to experience and embrace the playful nature of pottery, whether that be through sipping morning coffee out of a whimsical, handmade mug or getting to experience learning a new skill by taking on the challenge of wheel-throwing, Kirk’s vision is to help others find joy in the little moments. Creating these moments, she gets to share in that feeling, “as a studio owner the joy I see on my students’ faces when they get to experience the magic of wheel throwing for the first time or when my returning, 6-week course students have an ah-ha moment, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
The community continues to show up and support the hands-on learning opportunities and featured work at Huron Street Studios. Kirk is thrilled to be making and selling her work out of the studio she owns and she has welcomed dozens of students into the space weekly for a variety of offerings. “My time at UToledo showed me this was possible,” she shared. “When I’m alone in the studio, I find myself looking around in disbelief – I built it, I get to enjoy it and so do so many others.”
Kirk’s next move is to spend time showcasing her work, focusing more on her sculptures, vases and lamps. She will spend the summer focusing on creating and participating in art fairs and shows across the region before returning to a more robust schedule of workshops and weekly classes this fall. Already looking to expand and pay-it-forward, Kirk is also looking forward to hiring a local UToledo student as a part-time studio tech to help with day-to-day operations for her space.
The warm environment that Kirk creates in the studio was built on her belief that when you, “find and foster community, that’s where the true magic happens.” Kayla Kirk is certainly creating her own magic by sharing her passion for pottery with the world.