Meet the Team!
Faith
Owner
Meet our owner Faith, and her family—Taylor, little Gwen, and Theo! After a college ceramics course, Faith added "open a ceramics studio" to her ten-year plan—and here we are! As a born entrepreneur drawn to ceramics, she jumped at the opportunity when Vancouver needed a pottery studio.
Faith and Taylor started Kilnfolk with young families in mind—a place for date nights or family creativity. If you visit the shop, you might meet their daughter Gwen and son Theo!
Faith's hope is that Kilnfolk will be a space for neighbors to connect and get creative together. Her favorite thing about teaching? Getting to know this amazing community of artists!
On a day off, you can find her enjoying her patio with a good drink, a great podcast, and a salty snack.
Her superpower: not afraid of big ideas and taking risks.
Kate
Manager
Kate wears many hats at Kilnfolk, managing studio operations and keeping everything running smoothly. A high school teacher introduced her to hand-building, which quickly became her place of peace. She's continued learning pottery and is also a talented printmaker.
Kate thrives on connecting with studio visitors and loves watching members develop their craft and hone their personal artistic styles. Outside the studio, you'll find her exploring Portland, soaking up the Pacific Northwest, and creating—especially drawing.
Her superpower: organization and perfect handwriting.
Ann
Instructor & Studio Tech
Ann is one of our talented instructors at Kilnfolk, with over 12 years of pottery experience. You'll find her teaching our Tuesday night multi-week class and developing new workshops. Her favorite part of pottery is making something she's never made before and the excitement that comes with uncharted territory.
A graduate from Clark College with an Associate of Fine Art, Ann's creativity extends well past ceramics. Outside the studio, she paints PNW landscapes in watercolors and oils, hikes, camps, and cooks.
Her superpower: thoughtfulness & being able to anticipate the needs of others.
Esther
Instructor & Studio Tech
Esther handles day-to-day studio operations, oversees paint-your-own pottery, plans events, and teaches workshops at Kilnfolk. With a Bachelor's degree in Visual Studies from Ringling College of Art & Design, she brings both artistic expertise and a deep understanding of the craft.
Esther finds joy in seeing people's excitement when they see their first finished piece. Her favorite part of ceramics? No two pieces are ever exactly the same.
Outside the studio, you can find Esther playing cozy games on her Nintendo Switch, cuddling her cats, and exploring digital art, block printing, and crochet.
Her superpower: staying super chill under pressure & letting stress roll off her back.
McKenna
Marketing
McKenna manages the marketing efforts at Kilnfolk, constantly working to improve communication with studio visitors. With a background in business and photography, she brings both creative and strategic skills to the team.
McKenna loves the community aspect of the studio, especially seeing friends & families connect in a unique way, often sharing the vulnerability of trying something new.
Outside of work, she spends as much time as she can with her family, enjoying walks to soak in the seasons, and pursuing various home projects.
Her superpower: her curiosity & determination in executing ideas.
Savanah
Instructor & Studio Tech
Savanah is a multi-media artist with a special love for ceramics, working with clay for the past 3 years. With a BFA in Humanities and Spatial Design, she combines wheel-thrown and hand-built techniques to create pieces that blur the line between functional and ethereal.
Her favorite part of this art form? Experimenting with attachments, new glaze applications, and embracing the playful, unpredictable nature of clay.
Savanah is inspired by the magic of everyday living, and loves creating objects that help people rediscover a sense of awe in the ordinary. Outside the studio, you'll find her traveling, exploring nature, and meandering through vintage stores.
Her superpower: finding wonder in the everyday and pouring it into her work.
Julia
Instructor & Studio Tech
Julia graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Psychology, but she's always been drawn to creative hobbies and artistic outlets. Ceramics is the one that's truly stuck. As a bit of a perfectionist, pottery has taught her to take pride in a piece even when it doesn't turn out as planned.
She also works in research, so ceramics gives her a chance to engage a different, more creative side of her brain, striking a perfect balance.
Pottery can be humbling, so she likes reminding people that mistakes are part of the process, not a detour from it.
Outside the studio, you'll usually find her reading, spending time outdoors, at a coffee shop, or thrifting.
Her superpower: helping people feel comfortable enough to make mistakes and try again.