jackson carey is a toronto-based ceramicist whose work connects functional pottery with living botanical ecosystems. growing up near a naturalized ravine and wetland, he spent much of his youth immersed in the outdoors, developing a deep appreciation for the subtle and intricate details of nature. that early connection with the environment would eventually become the foundation of his creative practice, shaping both the materials he works with and the way he thinks about his relationship to the natural world.
as he entered adulthood and built a career in bioresource management, jackson began to feel restricted by the rigid boundaries of the corporate world. seeking to reconnect with the creative freedom of his youth, he began balancing two lives, working a conventional day job while spending his evenings exploring the slow, peaceful, and grounding rhythm of clay. what started as a personal practice gradually became a space where he could step away from the structure of his professional life and reconnect with something more instinctive.
merging his passion for ceramics with his love of botany, jackson began creating specialized ceramic vessels designed around the needs of carnivorous bog plants, orchids, and succulents. rather than treating the plants as an addition to the pottery, he began considering the vessel and the living organism as part of the same system. each piece was shaped around the specific environmental and structural needs of the plant, allowing his interests in ceramics and nature to naturally inform one another. over time, this distinct approach gave him the confidence to consider turning his creative practice into a full-time pursuit.
leaving behind the security of a traditional career, jackson built a practice that treats pottery as an extension of the earth itself. his vessels are designed as small, living ecosystems, tailored to individual plants and their environments. from moisture-loving carnivorous species to orchids and succulents, each arrangement is carefully considered to create a sense of natural coexistence. the result can feel almost like a fragment of the forest floor brought indoors, blurring the boundaries between functional pottery, botanical life, and sculpture.
today, jackson’s work extends beyond individual vessels into a broader practice centred on connection and community. through his living botanical designs and interactive workshops across the city, he creates opportunities for others to slow down, work with their hands, and reconnect with the natural world. what began as a way to find creative freedom outside of his day job has grown into a life built around the things that have always grounded him: nature, making, curiosity, and the simple act of touching the earth.
jackson’s journey is a reminder that a creative path does not always begin with a clear destination. sometimes the interests that seem separate can eventually reveal themselves as parts of the same story. by bringing together his background in botany, his love of nature, and his practice in ceramics, jackson developed a creative language that feels distinctly his own. his story shows that stepping away from conventional expectations does not mean abandoning what came before. instead, the experiences and curiosities we carry with us can become the very things that help us build a life that feels more connected, purposeful, and true to who we are.
