Kendra McCartney

My name is Kendra McCartney. I am a magical maker of monsters and storybook pottery living and creating in Lubbock, Texas. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Texas Tech University. I was part of the artist residency at the Charles Adams Studio Project (CASP) in Lubbock, Texas (2016-2018) and have been a full time artist since 2018.

I create artwork inspired by creatures that derive from books and stories of fantasy. The details lure me in: the tiny veins in leaves, the multi-faceted angles on a rock, and the heavy textures and patterns of a tree’s bark. I combine the diversity of nature, myths and legends with the versatility of ceramics to create pieces that offer a tactile moment of discovery and joy. Depending on the viewer’s experience of nature, they may see patterns of animal fur, tree bark, or rock strata within the textures. I believe nobody is too old for their imagination and to find joy in fairy tales. Through my art, I want others to rediscover their childlike wonder of the world.