Kyle Hawley: Creativity, Motherhood & Meaningful Work

Stories of Change & Creativity

Send us a text

In this episode of Stories of Change & Creativity, I talk with Kyle Hawley, founder of Letterpress PLAY and creative director at 26 Keys. Kyle shares how growing up in a multi-generational household shaped her creative journey and her approach to entrepreneurship and motherhood.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Kyle’s path from a theater and mass communication student at Texas State University to entrepreneur
• How a thesis project on post-WWII playgrounds led to the creation of Letterpress PLAY
• Life lessons from Kyle's grandparents
• Balancing motherhood, art, and business by staying grounded
• Using printmaking to explore the broader archetypes of motherhood
• Unfolding the Rainbow of Motherhood, an exhibition by Kyle Hawley with Flatbed Press
• The power of consistent creative practice: “You have to show up for yourself and do that consistently”

Bio

Kyle Hawley is the founder and creative director of Letterpress PLAY, an Austin-based letterpress studio and stationery store. The studio designs and prints beautiful, high-quality goods, while also curating products from artisans around the world.
Her mission with Letterpress PLAY is twofold: to share the heritage craft of letterpress printing and to foster community and play for everyone through her products. Kyle also serves as the creative director of the award-winning 26 Keys Productions, an Austin-based film and television company known for producing cinematic, character-driven stories.
As a fine artist, Kyle explores the topics of beginnings and closures regarding developmental phases of life through photographic technics, printing, and textiles. Current exhibitions include the Wichita Falls Museum of Art and Flatbed Press. She is a graduate of The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and earned her first Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Broadcast Journalism, and Theater at Texas State University. Her diverse educational background enriches her work across multiple creative fields. Additionally, Kyle serves as a board of trustees for Sarah Lawrence College.

Hi Friend - If you’re enjoying Stories of Change and Creativity, make sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a 5-star review—it helps more people discover the show.

Chapters

1. Meeting Kyle Hawley (00:00:00)

2. Early Education and Creative Foundations (00:03:36)

3. Birth of Letterpress PLAY (00:08:39)

4. Family Influence and Problem-Solving Mindset (00:12:25)

5. Motherhood, Art, and Career Balance (00:16:37)

6. Making Art and Creative Practice (00:22:55)

7. Current Projects and Future Vision (00:29:23)