The best pipe for smoking weed shouldn’t have to hide in a drawer. Today’s cannabis consumers are done with fragile, disposable pieces. They want precision-engineered tools that look as good as they perform. A premium marijuana pipe can be both functional and sculptural, and Portland-based Artifact is proving it.
Known for sculptural forms, precision-machined metals, and user-focused functionality, Artifact’s smoking pipes and tools blend durability and performance with refined aesthetics. From its flagship Tempest pipe to its soon-to-launch Vesta Magnetic Ashtray, the company is building a new category of design-led cannabis smoking accessories that prioritize longevity, ease of care and an elevated experience for your daily ritual.
“Artifact is a design-led brand that treats smoking tools as design objects,” states Artifact Founder Ryan Rickett. “I come from film and design, so I obsess over form, detail, and how things feel in the hand.”
A Filmmaker Reimagines the Smoking Pipe
Rickett is a filmmaker and designer with a sharp focus on form and function. His creative career spans global brands like Levi’s and Toyota, as well as artists including John Legend, Janelle Monáe, and Fitz and The Tantrums.
In 2020, Rickett began channeling his visual arts background in a new direction. Moving beyond music videos, he started developing prototypes for an innovative, distinctly modern smoking pipe.
“As I was creating these early prototypes, I realized a little imagination could go a long way in terms of functionality and design,” he explains. “After a lot of tinkering, I started to feel like I was onto something that felt as exciting as filmmaking did when I was starting out.”
Artifact officially launched in 2024 following Rickett’s move from Los Angeles to Portland. The brand grew from his frustration with the fragile construction, harsh draws, and difficult maintenance common among many traditional pipes.
Artifact Founder Ryan Rickett
“Artifact began because I couldn’t find a pipe that ticked all the boxes,” he says. “Most were fragile, uninspired, and frustrating to maintain. Draws were harsh, cleanup was a chore, and the pipe stayed hidden. I wanted to change that.”
Seeing a gap in the market, Rickett decided to build one himself (not just as a product, but as a design-forward brand for people who care about objects, space and ritual).
“Our mission is to elevate the human experience through design,” Rickett says. “We build first-class innovations for daily ritual and pair them with inspired storytelling that entertains, educates and moves people.”
The Tempest: A Future Classic
Constructed from two magnetized pieces of hard-anodized CNC aluminum, the perfectly symmetrical Tempest pipe features a square bowl and a winding, labyrinth-like interior. This intricately designed maze provides a cooling experience for the smoke which is additionally filtered through an optio
