The Bee Cups® Origin Story

Hi! My name is Jen Rose, and I’m an ecological artist and former professor of Ceramics and Design. I created Bee Cups® during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, inspired by time spent in my garden and ceramics studio. I noticed insects drinking from the rainwater that collected on my porcelain sculptures and thought—why not create art that invites pollinators to interact with it? That idea led to the creation of the Bee Cups® watering station.

The more I learned about pollinators, the more fascinated I became—especially with bees. When I discovered that bees can see ultraviolet light, I used my technical background to engineer a glaze that reflects UV wavelengths. Bees rely on ultraviolet patterns to find flowers and to navigate back to the hive, even on cloudy days. Our Bee Vision™ glaze taps into this remarkable ability, making gardens even more inviting for pollinators.

Although I started the business alone in my garage, today I employ a talented team of artists to create Bee Cups® watering stations, nesting tubes for native bees, and electrolyte tablets for bird baths. Our studio is proudly zero-waste, plastic-free, and people-first. We're so glad you found us! Together, we can support pollinator populations with beautiful, handcrafted products.

By the way, I still make art for humans. If you want to take a look go to my art website here!

GO TEAM POLLINATOR!

Sincerely,
Jen Rose

Bee Cups Mission Statement:
Bee Cups uses art, science, and design to promote environmental sustainability and pollinator awareness by creating handmade objects that are both beautiful and environmentally significant. 

Bee Cups Culture Statement:
Bee Cups is a women-owned small business committed to living our mission. We maintain a zero-plastics policy and use innovative production techniques to close the production waste cycle. Our commitment to solidarity with all people and animals requires that we also acknowledge that the impacts of climate change affect each of us differently based on our varying identities. We are committed to mentoring young people studying the fields of art, environmental science, and entrepreneurship.