Jackson Carey is a Toronto-based ceramicist whose practice beautifully bridges the gap between functional pottery and living botanical ecosystems. Raised alongside a naturalized ravine and wetland, Jackson spent his childhood immersed in the raw wonder of the outdoors, developing an early fascination with the minute, organic details of the natural world. However, as he transitioned into adulthood and pursued a structured path in bioresource management, he found himself stifled by the rigid expectations and corporate boxes of a conventional career. Driven by a persistent need to reclaim that childhood sense of freedom, he began living a double life—navigating a traditional job by day while spending his evenings exploring the slow, peaceful, and grounding rhythm of clay.

Ultimately choosing to let go of conventional security to dive completely into his craft, Jackson built a unique practice that treats pottery as an extension of the earth itself. He creates specialized, ecosystem-specific vessels tailored to the precise structural and biological needs of individual plants—ranging from moisture-loving carnivorous species to orchids and succulents—designed to look as though a piece of the forest floor was pulled directly into the home. Today, his work spans far beyond individual vessels; through his living botanical designs and interactive community workshops, Jackson has traded the rigid constraints of a traditional career path for an evolving, artistic life dedicated to bringing people closer to nature and touching the earth.

Leif’s evolution from a fast-paced commercial illustrator to a fine artist highlights the delicate balance between structured design and raw, intuitive creation. While his 10- to 15-year background in the commercial sector instilled a love for concise, clever problem-solving, it also gave him the freedom to draw without the immediate pressure of academic justification that had shaped his early fine art training. By shifting his focus away from the clear-cut markers of commercial success, Leif has embraced the beautifully complex, challenging, and enduring nature of fine art.

Director & DP — Shazer Llanera
Co-director & DP — Christian Salenga

A Studio Propel Original