Pollinating ideas to protect your brand

Hi, I’m an ecological artist with over 25 years of experience working in porcelain installation and sculpture. My inspiration comes from the natural world, and I strive to raise awareness of environmental issues through my art. In many of my projects, I look for ways that artwork can not only highlight ecological problems but also interact with nature and offer small solutions. Bee Cups are a perfect example—functional, beautiful objects that address a real ecological need.

Each Bee Cup is handmade in our studio in West Dallas. While I’ve exhibited my work nationally and led a college ceramics program for many years, the idea for Bee Cups came when life allowed me to slow down. When the pandemic shut down classes, I found myself with time to focus on my home studio and garden. I began observing how rainwater pooled in some of my outdoor sculptures, and how small insects—especially pollinators—would drink from them. I started wondering: could I create small, intentional art objects specifically for pollinators?

From that idea, the Bee Cup was born. Initially, I shared the concept with a group of entomologists to see if the design had ecological value. The response was overwhelming. I received a flood of encouragement—and purchase requests! That’s when I realized I had stumbled onto something special.

I dove deeper, refining the design based on research into bee anatomy and behavior. My search history is filled with odd questions like “How long is a honeybee’s tongue?” and “Do bees have toes?” When I learned that pollinators can see ultraviolet light, I used my background in ceramic chemistry to develop a glaze that reflects UV wavelengths. This “Bee Vision” glaze helps pollinators locate the cups more easily, drawing even more visitors to the garden.

Today, Bee Cups are both a functional product and a continuation of my lifelong artistic practice.