Carissa Potter is a human longing for connection. She writes books, makes art & public commissions, and hosts the series Bad At Keeping Secrets (one of Substack’s featured newsletter of 2022) where she talks to other humans doing really interesting things. Carissa is the founder of People I’ve Loved, the author of three books, and was one of AdAges 24 Most Inspiring People of 2021.

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Carissa received her MFA in Printmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2010 and is a founding member of Colpa Press and the founder of People I’ve Loved.

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People I’ve Loved has over 600 stores globally and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Martha Stewart Living, Create Magazine, New York Times, The Lily, Cup of Jo, Teen Vogue, Real Simple, Happinez Magazine and more.

 

Carissa has worked with the ICA in Boston, BAM/PFA, SFMOMA, De Young Museum, CCA, The Body Shop, Anthropologie, The Color Factory, Urban Outfitters, The Hammer, & Pinterest to name a few. Carissa has also served as a mentor in Southern Exposure’s One-on-One Mentorship Program. 

 

Since 2010, she has been an artist in residence at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley.

In 2016, Carissa was an artist in residence at Facebook and in 2019 she is an artist in residence at Google with Leah Rosenberg. She has exhibited across the globe, most recently at Eleanor Harwood and Legion, both in San Francisco.

 

Carissa finished her first book with Chronicle books in 2015 titled “I like you, I love you.” Currently, she is working on being a better listener and just finished her second book with Chronicle books, titled “It’s Ok to Feel Things Deeply.”