BETHANY PELLE, MFA

Founder and Creative Director, Kyndred Arts & Culture

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Bethany Pelle is an arts administrator, facilitator, ceramist, sculptor, and social‑practice artist whose career weaves together masterful clay work with a lifelong dedication to community‑centered, trauma‑informed, and culturally responsive making.

Through Kyndred Arts & Culture, Bethany transforms collective art-making and ceramics practices into catalysts for healing and empowerment – creating thriving, inclusive hubs where every maker can belong.

Technical Authority

With over two decades of studio practice, teaching, and professional consultancy, Bethany guarantees high‑quality ceramic production and safe, well‑maintained studio operations. Her expertise spans hand‑building, wheel throwing, slip casting, custom clay and glaze formulation, gas & electric firing, mold making, and advanced surface techniques. She has served as Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute, Instructor of Record at Tyler School of Art, Faculty and Ceramics Technician with 92NY, Senior Ceramics Specialist for Tom Sachs Studio, and Graduate Studio Assistant at both Tyler School of Art and the University of Miami.

Community‑Arts Pedagogy

Bethany has designed, staffed, and evaluated youth and adult focused arts programs that prioritize equity, accessibility, and cultural relevance. As Director of Arts Education at Kennedy Heights Arts Center (2020‑2022), she oversaw a portfolio of programs for all ages, hired and supervised 30+ contract instructors, built partnerships with schools, libraries, and local nonprofits, and facilitated a transformational zine program for diverse high school students. Her work at BLOC Arts (2019‑2020) created after‑school and recovery‑focused ceramics classes that established robust health, safety, and inclusion protocols.

Trauma‑Informed Lens

Certified as a Mental Health Peer Support Specialist, Trained in a Trauma‑Sensitive Mindfulness Peer Facilitation and Death Companioning, Bethany embeds a care‑first ethos into every class, workshop, and apprenticeship she leads.

Intersectional Vision

As a neurodivergent artist who actively centers queer, gender‑nonconforming, and culturally diverse voices, she models the inclusive leadership that defines Kyndred Arts & Culture.

Strategic Funding Experience

Multiple grant wins — including Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Radical, Timely, and Urgent Grant (2024 & 2025), Art Meets Activism Grant (2023), and advancing Democracy/Building Power (2019) and People’s Liberty’s Globe Grant (2018) — combined with transparent reporting showcase her fiscal responsibility and capacity to sustain long‑term programming.

Proven Leadership in Community‑Based Arts

• Founder & Creative Director, Kyndred Arts & Culture (2019‑present):
  Built a Kentucky‑based, artist‑led organization that designs inclusive arts‑education programs, curates community‑driven initiatives, and is preparing to open the Kyndred Clay Studio - a space honoring regional craft traditions while foregrounding radical belonging for neurodivergent‑plus artists.
  

• Director of Arts Engagement & Learning, Kennedy Heights Arts Center (2020‑2022):
  Managed youth and adult programs, developed several community arts initiatives, instituted rigorous evaluation metrics, secured grant funding, and cultivated community partnerships.
  

• Project Manager of Pottery & Ceramics, BLOC Arts Program (2019‑2020):
  Developed after‑school and recovery‑focused ceramics classes, increasing participation among women in addiction recovery and sex work.
  

• Project Manager of Hey, Let’s Talk Mental Health Social Intervention, ArtWorks (2018): Mentored a team of seven youth apprentices in development of technical, social and work skills pertaining to community engagement, focus group research, group facilitation, data collection, empathy, ethics, team building, and public speaking. I also oversaw research and implementation phases of the project; cultivated an empathic and collaborative work culture among a team of youth apprentices; and oversaw peer-facilitated stakeholder dialogues across diverse, local youth programs.
  

• Creator / Director, Make Someone's Day, People's Liberty (2018):

  This dynamic creative initiative, featured a community art studio and a weekly series of creative workshops. The project gathered overlapping and intersecting communities of Findlay Market around collaborative gestures of appreciation and empathy. Weekly creative workshops were led in partnership with local businesses, nonprofits, and artists. We prioritized inclusive accessibility by offering participation in all activities, workshops and events free of charge.

  ✿ 2260+ guests came through our doors

  ✿ 110 individuals from 59 local neighborhoods were nominated to receive porcelain flower arrangements created by the community.

  ✿ 225+ people, from over 79 communities got their hands dirty with us to create and glaze over 1020 porcelain flowers

  ✿ 110 arrangements were created and gifted to individuals nominated for this honor by their friends, neighbors, mentors, business partners, parents, colleagues, extended family, role models, employees, community members and chosen family members, among others.

Academic Foundations

• MFA in Ceramics (Summa Cum Laude), Tyler School of Art, Temple University

• BFA in Ceramics (Summa Cum Laude), University of Miami (minors in Art History & Anthropology)