Gray clouds hung heavy as I prepared to sit down with Nina. An artist, yes—but more than that, she’s a listener of material, a translator of energy and a living embodiment of resilience. Perhaps the heavy clouds embodied the rollercoaster of emotions I was about to hear first-hand.
Her journey into clay and copper, into jewelry and music, is not just a creative pursuit but a spiritual one—rooted in healing, self-trust and the willingness to begin again.
Illuminate. (Mushroom Lamp). Nina Kawar, artist
Originally drawn to music and visual expression from a young age, Nina didn’t formally step into clay until she was 26, when what began as an elective course quickly became a tool to endure life’s pains. It was a process of feeling, healing and becoming. From there, her path unfolded with synchronicity: a divorce that brought her back to Wisconsin led her to explore deeper study in 3D design, and eventually a full scholarship to Clemson, her dream grad school.
It was at Clemson where she met porcelain—the material she’d fall in love with for its elegance, strength and fragility. Porcelain, known for being both incredibly fragile and resilient, perhaps taught her the most about who she was. She learned its language and how to ride the fine line between fragility and masterpiece.
After grad school, Nina chose Asheville for its artistic soul. She decided to follow her calling away from teaching—and live as an artist. Within months of arriving, the universe nudged her: a chance to sell her work, build a name and create a life where her business supported her fine art. Her brand, Pure Ritual, rose from Asheville—offering sculptures and jewelry designed to help others along their spiritual path.
Then came Hurricane Helene.
In a twist of fate, Nina had left her most valuable jewelry inventory in her car unloaded after a show, an unusual decision that ended up saving her livelihood. Her studio at Marshall High Studios, with 16 years of investment, was destroyed in the flood.
Walking through the w
Arrowhead Series. Nina Kawar, artist
reckage felt like a war zone. The loss was devastating—but even in such dire circumstances she relives gratitude that at least she walked away with her breath and her purpose, even if the latter felt buried like the mud she waded through.
Still, the emotional toll was deep. Nina’s greatest healing tool—creating—had been stripped from her. She spiraled into a crisis of confidence.
The answer came through community.
A residency at the Vermont Studio Center gave her back what the storm had taken: confidence. With just two carving tools and the generosity of fellow artists, she returned to clay and rediscovered her creative rhythm. Surrounded by 30 artists and writers, Nina remembered who she was: not someone who makes art but someone who embodies art.
Now, she’s entering a new chapter—continuing work she started two years ago working with copper, exploring electroforming, embracing jewelry-making with the precision of a scientist and the intuition of a healer. She’s also returning to music, slowly reawakening her voice and letting it be heard.
What she lost in materials, she gained in clarity.
In one unforgettable moment, sitting across from her, I saw the truth of her story in her eyes—shimmering with emotion—and in a smile that carried both ache and grace. That expression said everything about how much creating means to her. How deeply art is woven into who she is.
She wasn’t just talking about lost objects. She was remembering the years of sacrifice, the fragments of her life and the sacred practice of creating—all swept away by a merciless flood, erasing the home where her spirit had quietly built a life.
The heartfelt pause felt like an age. “This is perhaps the first time in my life I’ve allowed myself to truly breathe, to grieve fully and to trust in the flow of life,” she says.
She’s no longer chasing the next thing. Like the riverbank overcome by the French Broad River, she’s learning to flow with it—wherever that may take her. Toward healing, toward possibility and toward her beauty still waiting to be made.
Andrew’s book, My Journey Beyond the Summit, is available on Amazon. To connect or nominate somebody that Andrew should feature, reach out at ap@andrew365.com.Find Nina Kawar’s work at NinaKawar.com and pure-ritual.com and on Instagram @ninakawar.
