Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Reinhardt.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I had my sights set on majoring in photography when I went to college at Kansas State University in 2006, and part of that degree requirement was taking a three-dimensional credit course, so I enrolled in ceramics. Within two weeks of that first ceramics class I was pretty sure I’d found what I wanted to do. I switched my major pretty quickly and dove head first into my craft. I had some incredible teachers, really enthusiastic people that inspired me and motivated me, and kept me interested in clay and pretty quickly I found that I couldn’t stay out of the studio. My roommates would go to parties and I would sneak away to the ceramics studio all weekend long. A little while after graduation, my professor Yoshi Ikeda retired, and when he did, he gave me his kiln and his wheel and a bunch of other small tools and supplies that helped me start my business. He told me he gave me those things because I’d worked so hard and he had noticed. He used to say, “I can teach people how to do ceramics, but I can’t teach them how to work hard, and you worked really hard.” I still work hard. I come to the studio almost everyday, a habit he also had, and one I like to carry forward in his honor. Yoshi and I spent a lot of time together in the studio quietly working side by side. He passed away in 2014, and I’ve always wished I could show him what he helped me start. I will cherish the skills he taught me, the gifts he gave me, and those memories of working together as long as I live! I have a little shrine set up in my studio, dedicated to all of my teachers, and sometimes I do feel like his spirit is present. Perhaps quietly judging the messes I make or the dumb “Mickey Mouse shit” that I sometimes feel the urge to create. He was so funny and such an impressive artist. I feel so lucky to have been one of his last students.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggles are ever present. Lately, I have felt very focused on $URVIVAL. My business has seen many struggles and road bumps over the last 15 years, so I do understand that this is part of the path of an artist-entrepreneur. I’m moving toward the busiest time of year for my business, and I’m feeling hopeful for what’s to come for the remainder of 2025. At the start of 2025 I started teaching workshops and classes with my friend and fellow ceramic artist Sarah Veak. We started Claymates as an extension of our own personal practices, a way to stay in community with each other and people who wanted to get their hands in clay, whether for the first time or just for fun. We’ve been committed to creating new and exciting projects and it’s been a new income portal for the both of us. Starting a new business is always a challenge, and we’re so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together and the unique and inspiring things our students keep creating.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I started The Object Enthusiast in 2011 and have always been known for my pottery. Mostly functional wares – mugs, cups, bowls, trays, platters, vases and vessels. I really love making one-of-a-kind works. I want each piece to feel unique and special to the person who’s picked it out. I love the tactile nature of ceramics. Pieces with glazes that drip in just the right spot, or the way the texture of the clay feels in your hand as you hold your mug. I like to make things that people live with and use, rather than work that sits in an all white gallery setting. I like knowing that the things I’ve created will be with someone throughout their day. I love changing things up and challenging myself to create something new and different each week. Strange creative experiments are my favorite part of being an artist. I’ve learned that it is so important to incorporate play into the studio on a regular basis. Without it, my creativity gets stale and my light dims. Over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed getting into the world of tile. It feels like an open-ended adventure every time. My first commission was for Heidi Gardner’s beautiful home here in Kansas City. I made and installed the tile for her bar cabinet in her dining/living room. I’m so proud of that piece!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the creative community in Kansas City. It’s a city where things still feel possible. I know that my studio practice, as it is today, would likely not be possible in other cities. I’m positioned in a unique spot – tucked in the back of Duet, we share a large building in the Crossroads. We’ve made it work by housing multiple businesses and creatives in our space, sharing the responsibility of operating and paying for such a large space. We’re a team, supporting each other and keeping the workload fun and inspiring on a weekly basis. I like that Kansas City feels like a big small town. I can run into people I know everywhere, and I get to see people from so many parts of my life. I can run into one of my high school teachers and someone I used to babysit and meet someone I’ve never met before all in one day.
Sometimes, being the face of my business and all of the social activity that brings with it can be challenging. I can be a bit introverted at times, and there are days I want to hide away in my studio without being seen or talked to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theobjectenthusiast.com
- Instagram: @theobjectenthusiast
- Other: https://www.clay-mates.com
