Dori Kite was born and raised in Bend, Oregon and has always had a passion for making art of any kind. She was fortunate to learn ceramics at Bend Senior High from Tom Temple, who left her senior year to develop the ceramics program at COCC. She continued her studies of ceramics with Tom at COCC who encouraged her wild and outlandish ideas. Dori further her studies at EOU  under the tutelage of Tom Diamond. Dori has worked in many different mediums but has always returned to her passion: clay.

Dori makes both decorative and functional ceramics and enjoys wheel throwing and hand building techniques. Decoration can be as simple as dipping pieces in glaze buckets, but often includes slip trailing, painting wax resist and/or glaze dribbling/dripping and pouring, as well as speckling through an atomizer. Her goal is to enjoy the process, keep it fresh, and share with others. "My inspiration is life. There is nothing completely original, but new ways of "seeing" in art, architecture, nature and humanity, and exciting ways of putting the elements together."

In November 2023, Dori moved back to Eastern Oregon. She now makes her work in her home studio in Baker City. She is thrilled to be living in Eastern Oregon and finds the art community in Baker City very lively and encouraging.