Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Kleiman.
Jane, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a child of fine and commercial artists, I always knew I would become an artist, but over time, I lost my connection to creativity, trying to fit into environments that never felt quite right, including art school and the art world. Years later, while raising my profoundly autistic son, I found my way back through pottery. Working with clay became both a grounding practice and a way to reclaim my identity outside of caregiving. What began as a personal refuge evolved into finding my artistic voice in clay, and eventually opening my own pottery studio — a space centered on creativity, connection, and belonging. Today, the studio has grown into a primarily membership-based community where artists can immerse themselves in the creative process at their own pace, share ideas, support one another, and continue to learn. Alongside my work as an artist and teacher, I also co-founded HomeLife 21, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a loving residential community for adults with profound autism. Whether through art or advocacy, my work is rooted in creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and truly seen.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the most difficult parts of the road to this moment, and it continues to be a challenge, is balancing the many roles I play. From caregiver one moment, to advocate, to business owner, to writer, to non-profit leader…All these roles come from the same place: my desire to co-create the kind of world I want to live in and that I want my children to inherit. It’s important to me that we live our values, especially right now, when the world can feel so overwhelming most of the time. I truly believe that our presence as compassionate, giving, generous souls makes our corner of the world better, and that has ripple effects that go on for miles. Many times, in ways we never even know.
It can be tough to switch gears and sometimes to give my full attention to any one thing, but my yoga and healing arts practices help me to notice when I need to pause, take a breath, and re-ground and center myself. I try to bring that awareness to my studio and my teaching.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as a clay artist. I sometimes throw a form on the wheel and then add to, alter, or transform it into a sculptural vessel. I also use coil building to discover and work with form, movement, gesture, and energy. I’m interested in the form as a metaphor for our human physical body, as well as an expression of how our experiences shape us into the beings we are. I’m influenced by forms found in nature, as well as by how natural forces, such as wind, water, erosion, decay, etc, affect the physical landscape, and what that looks like over time. I use alternative firing methods, such as Raku, Saggar, and juxtapose textural elements to inform my work. I look at my pieces as parts of a whole, but I don’t have much interest in defining a particular “style” for myself. Right now, I’m interested in exploring how we value ceramic work. There has always been a conversation/debate about ceramics as art or craft. Although that’s not specifically my focus, I do question how work gets valued or devalued according to its “function.” I’m currently working on a series of pieces exploring this theme, and in general, have been playing with this idea in my sculptural forms. I’m quite proud of my authenticity. I simply don’t know any other way to be. It’s often been a source of frustration and insecurity because staying true to myself has often meant not fitting in, but the older I get, the prouder I am of that.
How do you think about luck?
Recently, I decided to withdraw from the market as a class-based studio and switch to primarily a membership model. I don’t know if I’d call it luck…more like what’s in alignment for me right now. As adult disability services become ever more challenging to obtain, and safety in both residential and day programming is a major concern, I expect to spend quite a bit of time and energy on advocacy work in the next year, and moving our residential project forward. With that, I’d like to focus on my own work and stewarding other artists to their best work rather than promoting and filling classes. I’ll offer private lessons to current and new students and one class a week for those who prefer a class environment.
Pricing:
- Private Lesson $75 per hour
- Squatter Potter Monthly Membership $175.00
- 6 Week All Levels Hand-building Class $375
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jkceramicsnj.com/#/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkceramicsnj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SacredSpaceYogaandMassageTherapy
- Other: https://www.homelife21.org/
