Katia Chikasuye

Katia Chikasuye is born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii just a few miles away from Kīlauea caldera. Experiencing the power and beauty of Pele has been a constant presence in her life, stoking her inner fire and keeping her grounded.

She found her artistic expression through pottery in high school and college classes, then came back to the craft in 2023 after a long hiatus. While she has dabbled in many art forms over her life, there is something about the tactile process of pottery, the dichotomy of strength and fragility, and the creation of functional art on the wheel that brought her back to ceramics. Each handcrafted piece is a unique expression as you never know how it will turn out until it comes out of the glaze firing! That moment of awe and surprise (and sometimes disappointment) is part of the wonder of ceramics that keeps her enthralled.