Meet Connor Culhane | Artist and Founder of Culhane Home

We had the good fortune of connecting with Connor Culhane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Connor, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
My attitude on risk has evolved throughout my 27 years on this planet. I started with a conservative and risk-averse mindset, The experiences I have been afforded have opened my eyes to changing that stance.

As a child I grew up playing inline hockey. I distinctly remember objecting to the idea of having our goalie removed in favor of an extra attacker when in need of a late game-tying goal. That seemed like the most ridiculous idea as our goalie was a key factor in our success, acting as a safety net when we performed poorly.

Fast forward a decade and you’ll find college Connor studying a challenging degree at an out of state university of 50,000+ students, contemplating whether it’s the right time to tell his girlfriend ‘I love you’. Is it too soon? Will she say it back? – Retrospectively this is one of the easiest, best decisions I have made in this life. But in the moment, handing over my heart and being vulnerable felt like the biggest risk. I am so happy I found the courage in that moment seven years ago because it completely altered our lives for the better.

Come 2021, I am five years into my professional career as a biomedical engineer. Statistical analysis, number crunching, and technical writing throughout the week does a great job exercising the left-half of my brain. But I find myself yearning for a creative outlet, a way of letting loose and using my hands to create functional art. I invested a lot to get Culhane Home up and running. Taking this risk has given me the opportunity to explore my creativity, share my passion for pottery, and give back to charities I find meaningful.

The current revision of my stance on risk-taking is defined by the growing library of life experiences.

The most succinct description of my view on risk is written by a much better writer than myself, James Clear. He says ​”Your success depends on the risks you take. Your survival depends on the risks you avoid.”

So I say to you: Launch the brand. Say ‘I love you’ first. Pull the goalie.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Launching Culhane Home has given me an outlet to explore my creative side in a fun, productive way. With Culhane Home, I aim to share my passion for ceramics with the world and provide a channel to give to charities effecting meaningful change in my community. A significant amount of time and dedication has gone into finding my artistic style and refining my pottery techniques.

Along the way I have come to understand many things. Such as my best work happens when I approach the pottery wheel in a good mindset, Remain focused yet relaxed. Act with a steady hand, but don’t force it. Invite inspiration from others, but create your own voice. Use this personal outlet as a way of enacting positive change and fill homes with high-quality, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday: Bike along Huntington Beach Boardwalk with a stop at TK Burger for lunch. Big Bargain Special and a Cherry Coke, please. Angels Game that night.

Tuesday: Hiking along El Moro State Park, followed by lunch at Jersey Mikes. Lets hit up a driving range in Newport Beach and then get Puesto Taco Tuesday for dinner.

Wednesday: Kayak/Paddleboard rental around the Back Bay from Newport Aquatic Center. Ramen/sushi for dinner at Hiro Nori

Thursday: Best day of the week to visit Disneyland. Choose Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for both virtual queues. Ballast Point prior to fireworks.

Friday: Chill day resting the legs, catching the rays at 1000 Steps Beach in Laguna. Bring your own lunch. Electrolytes and sunscreen sold separately. Evening out at a Honda Center to catch a Ducks game.

Saturday: Panini Kabob Grill – order the Family Breakfast to carbo-load prior to tailgating the concert at FivePoints Ampitheater. Can’t beat free parking.

Sunday: Pick up some Starbucks or Coors Lattes before playing the back nine at Newport Beach Golf Course before the flight out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Krysta Kimmett

Website: www.culhanehome.com

Instagram: @CulhaneHome

Other: connor@culhanehome.com