The Kalsang Pottery store in Manhattan’s East Village is a sight to behold with
the tones of earthy brown, mustard yellow, and terracotta red giving it a serene
and welcoming look.
Neatly-lined shelves beckon patrons to admire the works on display. Vases,
bowls, cups, and, plates invite the eyes to feast on the artistry of Kalsang
Chomphel, the creative force behind Kalsang Pottery.
“Pottery started as a hobby for me and it soon became an obsession. The magic
that emerges when a lump of natural clay hits the wheel and ends up producing
something artfully aesthetic is a big draw for me,” Kalsang shared in an
exclusive exchange with Dancing Yaks.
Talking about what draws him to this meditative and rhythmic work of clay
swirling on the potter’s wheel, he said a lot of his inspiration comes from
British pottery as well as the natural and simple aesthetics of Korean and
Japanese pottery. And one can see the reflection of these techniques in his
works. Perfectly imperfect bowls and cups, vases in different shapes and glazes,
Kalsang’s works invite a quiet pace of discovery that promises a very rewarding
end.
Having worked in different creative and non-creative fields throughout his
career, Kalsang shares that his current obsession and love for pottery began
merely as a hobby a few years ago. “I was really enjoying pottery and one day
my wife suggested why don’t we turn this into a business,” he said. And thus,
Kalsang Pottery gradually started taking shape in 2022.
While Kalsang is the creative artist, his wife Tenzin Tseyang is the sharp
business brain that runs it and connects with people.
“I know how much he loves pottery and how passionate he is about it. So, when
he told me about going full-time with pottery, I was thrilled and encouraged him
to turn it into a business,” she told Dancing Yaks.
And the sound advice is bearing fruit today, as Tseyang shared, “There is
nothing more fulfilling than getting to do what you love. All I had to do was
support him logistically vis-a-vis a business model and researching the pottery
market. And if there is one thing that I am absolutely sure and confident about,
it is Kalsang’s pottery. We don’t have problems selling out. The work speaks
for itself. The only problem we have is that Kalsang can’t make enough of his
creations!”
Both Kalsang and Tseyang are alumni of Tibetan Children’s Village school in
Dharamsala and currently call Queens, New York, their home. Besides handling
the business, Tseyang is a full-time Health Research Scientist with the NYC
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Tseyang is also an accomplished
writer whose book “Dogs of TCV” was published in May, 2020, and very well
received in the diaspora community.
Immigrant families are tight knit and the views of parents and friends are much
valued. So, what was the reaction when Kalsang and Tseyang shared their plan
of turning this into a full-time business?
“My family was fully supportive as they had seen my journey from close
quarters, how my hobby turned into passion. Our friends thought it odd as well
as interesting that we were going to pursue this line of business. And although
we still have a long way to go, our journey so far has been meaningful and
blissful,” he shared, adding that, “Not only do people appreciate my art and
craft now, we are also doing well on the business front.”
Talking about the challenges on the way, Kalsang said, “In the beginning, we
had to find a market space to sell our pottery. We hustled a lot and participated
in several pop-up markets and street fairs. Another challenge was finding a
studio space. We now have our own private studio where we work to create all
our pottery.”
The hard-working immigrant couple, who describe themselves as dreamers and
go-getters, shared that they are still in the early phase of their art as well as the
pottery business and that they make sure to enjoy this journey as well.
“Kalsang is my best friend and partner in life. He is a very hard working and
humble person,” Tseyang said.
And for Kalsang, the journey has never been about just selling his beautiful
creations. Underlining the value of creative arts and acting on the Buddhist
philosophy of sharing one’s knowledge, Kalsang said, “We want to take the success of Kalsang Pottery further and focus more on creative and artful ventures including pottery retreats and educative sessions.”
