As a female-founded company, Women’s History Month is one of our favorite times to celebrate the strength of the women in our community as well as their individual talents.
Sequoyah Johnson is a ceramic artist and founder of The Coy Collection. The Coy Collection is handcrafted ceramic wares designed to make people feel good. After taking the business full time in 2020, Sequoyah has learned about advocating for herself while navigating barriers as an entrepreneur. On a visit to Sequoyah’s new studio, we chatted about creating your own rules, how self-love is essential as a creative, and stepping into the world as yourself.
Hi Sequoyah! Tell the BY Community a little bit about who you are.
Howdy y'all! I’m the ceramic artist behind The Coy Collection, a brand that offers a variety of ceramic wares that make you feel good—connecting functional artwork to self-love and care. Our mission is to empower, inspire, and spark joy in everyday rituals. Each piece serves as a little reminder that your body and home are worthy of smiles, love, and warmth.
It's Women's History Month and there are many women whose work left a legacy that made so much possible for women today. Who is one woman that you admire?
What a question! I think the one woman that I admire the most in this moment in time, selfishly, has to be myself. I’m always a little reluctant to even express that, but I am very proud to have this platform and advocate for myself, which was not always an easy or natural thing to do. This journey has been quite the adventure and at the end of the day I absolutely must pay homage to me, baby! That being said, I am absolutely thankful to all the women who came before me and who exist today that are also paving the way in their lane, so I do want to give high praise to the ancestors and pioneers and game changers as well!
As a woman, what's one barrier that you've faced? What's one that you hope to break down for other women who come after you?
One barrier I have faced is looking in the mirror and finding the courage to be 100% authentically myself in a society that hits us with so many nuanced messages that contradict being able to do just that. As a woman. As a Black person. As a creative. As an entrepreneur. The odds are stacked against me constantly, but I have learned how to focus on my truth and define my own rules because at the end of the day there are no rewards for suffering. My biggest purpose is to inspire and be a light for women who come after me to have the courage to not only shine, but to have some fun while thriving, despite the circumstances.
You left your teaching job in 2020 to launch The Coy Collection! What have you learned since taking your own business full time?
The Coy Collection is so deeply rooted in who I am as a person. I have learned and grown so much as an individual through this whole process. Navigating self alongside business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because sometimes they require two different sets of rules. Learning to show up, take necessary breaks, and not being afraid to pivot, experiment, and have fun have been the biggest takeaways for me as a creative business owner.
You left your teaching job in 2020 to launch The Coy Collection! What have you learned since taking your own business full time?
The Coy Collection is so deeply rooted in who I am as a person. I have learned and grown so much as an individual through this whole process. Navigating self alongside business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because sometimes they require two different sets of rules. Learning to show up, take necessary breaks, and not being afraid to pivot, experiment, and have fun have been the biggest takeaways for me as a creative business owner.
The style of your work is instantly recognizable. What were your key sources of inspiration for your ceramics and what do you hope that they inspire for folks that have them?
As I mentioned, I draw a lot of my inspiration from my personal experiences, a lot of which started back when I was an art teacher. The original smileys were inspired by stickers I would give my students, which always led to instant joy, and which became the icon for my mugs today. The smiley stickers became stamps of approval and motivation to keep doing a great job! I always want to promote moments of joy and authenticity—whatever that means for you.
As people and as artists it’s inevitable that we evolve over time. What are you excited for next for The Coy Collection?
I am learning to embrace the unknown. I am in a state of transition for The Coy Collection at the moment, but I can say I am excited to expand on the offerings and continue to share my journey. I just moved to LA and am in deep planning mode so we shall see what happens next!
What’s your favorite piece of BY to #MoveInBeyond?
First off, I am actually obsessed with the brand and all of my BY pieces are staples in my closet. I love the Spacedye Uplevel Midi Jumpsuit—she is the moment. It is so soft and breathable and fits my curves like a glove. I can put it on if I need to feel comfy at the studio or if I’m lounging around the house or need to run errands! I love a piece that serves versatility!
Where can the BY community find you online or IRL?
You can follow along at @thecoycollection on Instagram!
Photography by Ye Rin Mok