Brian Kakas is a ceramic artist, educator, and cultural leader whose work bridges tradition, innovation, and community. He is Full Professor of Ceramics at Northern Michigan University and currently serves as President of the Michigan Ceramic Art Association, where he has advanced statewide programming, biennial exhibitions, and national partnerships.

Kakas’s creative practice is grounded in material science, sustainability, and architectural form, combined with a deep interest in mindfulness and storytelling. His work has been exhibited internationally in Italy, Romania, Indonesia, South Korea, China, Latvia, Australia, and Thailand, with invitations to residencies and symposia around the globe. Recent projects include leading the construction of the first soda kiln in Indonesia, rebuilding NMU’s soda kiln with students as a real-world design-build project, and contributing as a juror and organizer to the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Biennale in China.

Recognized for both artistic excellence and teaching innovation, Kakas received NMU’s Excellence in Teaching Award. He has also established enduring international partnerships through Erasmus exchange programs and collaborative residencies, expanding opportunities for students and faculty.

Kakas’s practice and pedagogy emphasize ceramics as an inclusive and interdisciplinary field, accessible across art, design, and STEM. His work investigates how raw materials, firing processes, and mindful studio practices generate not only physical objects but also connections to culture, memory, and personal growth.