Our Team

Indya Smith-Johnson

My story starts with family; I come from empowering entrepreneurship, and with this support I have learned to harness the application of my BFA in Ceramics from the University of Iowa with Dirt Alchemy. I have been making pottery for 6 years, and have found passion in Ceramic Fine Art, Teaching, and using nature of the ceramic process as a vehicle to share a truly magical artistic process. My work is inspired by little moments of joy captured in the timeless effects of handcrafted pottery. When created, each piece is individually built to withstand extreme stress reaching temperatures over 2200 degrees Fahrenheit in the kiln. The carefully glazed clay becomes frozen in time, and the moment preserved. I started Dirt Alchemy with the goal of inspiring my customers to be present and enjoy the every day moments, experienced with a custom mug for your morning coffee, or a handcrafted pipe for your moments with friends.

Lexi Chesley

I am a multimedia artist with a passion for ceramic art and graphic design. I love to create art inspired by meditative practice, emulating the patterns and colors I find grounding in midwestern forests. The creative process of building something from dirt makes getting my hands dirty a rewarding and exciting space to explore and express myself. At Dirt Alchemy, I manage our content creation and I assist with our ceramic production and kiln operation to spread the feeling of joy ceramics offers to our customers.