Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendyl Arden.
Hi Kendyl, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of creativity, reflection, and human connection. My background is in both the fine arts and mental health. I’m an art therapist, counselor, educator, artist, and the founder of Selah Studio, a community pottery and creative wellness space in Grand Rapids.
Before opening Selah, I spent 5 years building and running a studio in Chicago where I taught pottery, hosted workshops, and developed community-centered creative programming. During that time, I was also completing my graduate training in counseling and art therapy, which deeply shaped the way I think about creativity. I started to explore how art is not just a skill, but it can be a way people process emotion, reconnect with themselves, and build meaningful lives.
Eventually my husband and I decided to leave Chicago and relocate to Michigan in search of a slower, more grounded pace of life. Selah Studio grew out of that transition. I wanted to create a space that felt intentional and somewhere that blended art, reflection, wellbeing, education, and community in a way that was approachable.
Right now, the studio primarily offers pottery classes, workshops, memberships, and private events, but my larger vision is to continue expanding into therapeutic art experiences that explore creativity as a form of self-care, symbolic meaning making, and personal growth. Alongside the studio, I also teach in a masters clinical counseling program, provide therapy services, and develop trainings and resources centered around art therapy and creative reflection.
At the core of everything I do is the belief that creativity has the power to reconnect people to themselves and to each other.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely had its ups and downs, similar to every business. I actually started my studio the same month COVID hit because the studio I was teaching at and creating commissions through closed unexpectedly. I never planned on building my own art business, let alone expecting there to be a pandemic. The pandemic forced me to adapt and create a path I hadn’t envisioned for myself, didn’t fully feel ready for, or even knew I was capable of. But the studio space was open and available, and I leaned in and said, like any 23-year-old with very limited experience, “I don’t have much to lose, I might as well try.”
In the beginning years of Muze, my first studio, I truly had no idea what I was doing. I was 23 at the time, had just moved to a brand-new city, left a long-term relationship, the world seemed to be collapsing, and I felt completely out of my element, but also so inspired by the hopeful vision despite the risk. My first studio was housed in a renovated garage on a quiet side street in the heart of Chicago. The space came with ample bugs, poor insulation, and a very scrappy setup, but that little space taught me so much about myself, resilience, and community-building at a very formative time in my adult life.
By the end of five years, the studio had grown into something I never fully expected. Classes were consistently full, and I was teaching nine classes a week while also balancing graduate school, later my doctorate, and my work in counseling and art therapy. I was the sole operator of that studio. And I used to say that like it was a badge of honor, but now I say that with more wisdom of the burden that becomes. In my early 20’s I had the time and energy to do it all. I learned through that space how much I could do, but I also learned through that space what I didn’t want to hold on my own, and that carrying everything can only be sustained for so long. That was the lesson I walked away with when my husband and I decided to move across state lines to get closer to family.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow sustainably without losing the heart behind why I started creating in the first place. Rebuilding again after relocating to Michigan has required patience, trust, and a willingness to start small and grow intentionally. But it’s been way easier the second time around as I now have 6 years under my belt, and I’m not a 23-year-old trying to form an identity in the world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Selah Studio is a community pottery and creative wellness studio in Grand Rapids centered around the idea that creativity can be both grounding and deeply connective. While we primarily offer pottery classes, workshops, memberships, and private events, the larger vision behind the studio has always been about creating intentional spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience creativity outside of performance or productivity.
My background is in both fine art and art therapy, so the studio has naturally evolved into a blend of artistic education, reflective practice, and community-centered experiences. I’m an art therapist, educator, artist, and writer, and those worlds all inform the way I approach the space. Even though someone may initially come to Selah to learn pottery, my hope is that they leave feeling more connected, not only to the creative process, but to themselves and the people around them.
I think what sets Selah apart is that it was never designed to be a high-volume “craft experience.” The studio is intentionally slower, smaller, and more relational. A lot of care goes into the atmosphere, the pacing of classes, and the experience people have while they’re there. I’m very inspired by spaces that feel both creatively stimulating and emotionally grounding.
One thing I’m especially proud of is how organically the community has formed around the studio. Some people come for pottery and stay because they’ve found friendship, routine, confidence, or a place that feels calming in the middle of a very fast-paced world. That has always meant more to me than rapid growth.
Long-term, I hope to continue expanding Selah into a multidisciplinary creative space that includes therapeutic art groups, workshops, continuing education trainings for mental health practitioners, reflective practices, and opportunities for people to engage with creativity in ways that feel meaningful and restorative.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of my favorite things about Grand Rapids is that it feels large enough where there’s always things to do, while still being small enough to genuinely feel connected to the community around me. As a small business owner, I’ve really appreciated feeling like I can actively participate in the growth and character of the city rather than just getting lost in it.
I also love the balance Grand Rapids offers in terms of lifestyle. You can live in the city, have a backyard, know your neighbors, and still have access to art, events, restaurants, and community spaces. Driving one direction can take you into a more urban environment, while another direction can take you to a forest preserve or the lake.
If I had to say one thing I miss, it would probably be Chicago’s food scene. Living there definitely spoiled me more than a bit when it came to high quality restaurants and the diversity of food options. But overall, I’ve really grown to appreciate the pace and quality of life here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.selahstudiogr.com
