About

• BFA in Fine Arts and German from the University of New Mexico.

• New Mexico Level 2 Teaching Licensure

• New Jersey Teaching Licensure

K.Chapapas is a functional potter, focusing in wheel-thrown pottery. She studied Arita-yaki porcelain pottery under Kathryn Cyman for five years and a Karatsu-yaki pottery under Jin Yoshida for two years. She now works in a blend of eastern and western styles as a functional potter from her home studio. She has been practicing wheelthrown pottery for eleven years.

Chapapas is American-born artist. They spent most of their childhood moving around to different places, never staying anywhere too long. When they lived in Germany, and its rich pottery culture touched them at a young age. She has spent most of her life in Albuquerque, New Mexico and considers it home. Its unique blend of Chicano, Pueblo and Southwestern styles of art and pottery has been a large influence in her life and work. She currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. She is currently a K-12 Art educator and potter. Though she likes to think of herself as a sewist, knitter, patternist, gardener, baker, knitter, and life-long learner. She enjoys spending her days making anything with her hands, while hanging out with her dog and partner.

Artist Statement

My work is focused on process, identity, and pattern. I am fascinated by the way that the human mind must organize the information it receives into patterns. Then it can use the patterns to reduce anxiety and calm the mind, because patterns mean we can attempt to predict what comes next. We are constantly recognizing and creating patterns in all aspects of our lives. Patterns have been a part of human communication, whether it be traditions, societal expectations, or simply decorations. We communicate through patterns, with each country and culture having it is own language of patterns. These patterns help us feel recognized and apart of certain communities, by connecting us through visual understanding. I use my own network of patterns to help myself feel connected to the various communities I have found myself apart of. Creating a pattern on a piece is a type of mediation, that requires you to hone in and focus on the individual marks, over and over again. It brings me a sense of peace and belonging and allows me to explore my own identity.

Contact

Chapapaspottery@gmail.com

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