Kelly O’Briant’s work in ceramics has made an expansive journey of form and material alongside her own travels through North Carolina and abroad. A native of Julian, NC, Kelly earned a BFA in Design with a second major in Cultural Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. During this time, she participated in archaeological field work in Finland, and increased her knowledge of kiln building through a research assistantship grant that allowed her to build a wood kiln in Greensboro. Afterwards, Kelly interned with potter Judith Duff in Cedar Mountain before entering the Penland School of Crafts as a two year Core student. While at Penland, she concentrated in clay and metals, also taking courses in books, wood and fibers. In clay, she gained expertise in a variety of techniques, including high temperature wood, salt and soda firings, porcelain, stoneware, low fire, earthenware, majolica and china painting.
In 2003, Kelly was accepted as a resident potter at the Energy Xchange in Burnsville, NC. Methane gas from an old landfill site is used to fire the gas reduction kiln at the Xchange. It was there that Kelly began to experience life and work as a full time potter.
Kelly returned to the Piedmont of North Carolina in June 2005, to set up her own studio. Her current focus is in high-fired functional porcelain work, which she appreciates for its clean lines and artistic accessibility. Her work has been featured in a number of exhibitions, most recently in Baltimore Clay Works “Winter Fest” and another invitational at the Hambidge Center (GA). She regularly participates in retail shows such as those by the American Craft Council, and sells her work from the studio as well as from galleries across the country.
Kelly currently resides in Julian, NC on a small farm with her husband, Matthew Thomason, and their two kitties, Donovan and Cookie.