About KAPLA Art
The first dog I had as an adult was Abby. We had her for ten years.
When we said goodbye to her, I couldn't bring myself to leave her ashes behind when we moved. I wanted to find an urn — something that felt worthy of her, something that fit in our home without announcing itself to every visitor.
Everything I found felt wrong. Cheap. Tacky. Pet-shaped objects with names and photos plastered on them. Nothing that looked like it belonged on a shelf next to the things we actually loved.
So I made one.
That's what KAPLA Art vessels are — objects designed for people who feel the same way I did. Beautiful enough to keep out. Private enough to be just yours.
— John
I'm a designer and maker with a background in engineering and a practice rooted in material exploration. KAPLA Art is built on restraint — creating objects that are intentional, tactile, and meant to endure.
Approach
“Sculptural objects designed to honor memory.”
My work is guided by structure — repetition, geometry, material discipline — and softened by subtle irregularity. I’m interested in tension: order and randomness, permanence and fragility, presence and absence.
Vessels
For the Memorial Vessels, this approach becomes quiet and deliberate — creating forms that hold meaning without demanding attention.
Lasting impact
Each piece begins as an exploration of form and process. Materials are selected for their integrity, and surfaces are finished by hand to preserve variation and individuality.