Colby grew up in Smithfield, Rhode Island and received his MFA in Ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2021, and his BFA in Ceramics and Glass from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2013. From 2013-2016, he worked as a studio assistant to artists Daniel Clayman and Chris Gustin. He has since completed residencies at Sonoma Ceramics in Sonoma, CA, The Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, FL, Harvard Ceramics at Harvard University in Allston, MA, Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, PA, the American Museum of Ceramic Art in Pomona, CA and the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT.

Colby is currently an Artist in Residence at the Interdisciplinary Ceramic Research Center at the University of Kansas.