A somewhat unconventional ceramic history of workshops, open studios, and unofficial residencies led Clarice Allgood to Minnesota in 2018. In 2019, she graduated from NCC’s certificate program, Minnesota New Institute for Ceramic Education, and was a Fogelberg Fellow at NCC in 2020. From a free-spirited, traveling childhood, and her academic education in philosophy, come a perspective rooted in thoughtfulness and curiosity.

Birdie Boone is a studio potter and independent ceramics educator. Her work is subtle, sensory, and expressive–made for daily use and contemplation. Born in West Virginia, Boone grew up in rural, southwestern Virginia and in the city of San Francisco. She holds an AB in studio art from The College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) and an MFA in artisanry/ceramics from the University of Massachusetts (Dartmouth).

Brown was born in California and raised in Dayton, Ohio. Brown found clay in high school and continued with the medium to graduate from Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH), where he earned his AA in Art in 2012. He then continued onto a BFA from Bowling Green State University (OH) in 2014, and an MFA from Indiana University Bloomington in 2018.

Mike Cinelli was born and raised in Daytona Beach, FL. Now a resident of Oxford, MS, Cinelli recently completed his BFA at the University of Mississippi. Currently, Cinelli is the ceramic department coordinator for the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Mississippi.

Maddie Fowler is a studio potter and designer based in Kalamazoo, MI. Originally from Ames, IA, Maddie received her BFA in ceramics from Ohio University (Athens). Following her time at OU, she completedpost-baccalaureate studies at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge). Fowler has participated in residencies at Red Lodge Clay Center (MT) as part of the Advanced Student Project Network and The International Ceramics Studio (Kecskemet, Hungary).

Delvin M. Goode was raised throughout California, Georgia, Germany, and Florida, as his father was in the United States Air Force. Growing up, his creativity was nurtured by family drawing competitions and art classes. He did not discover pottery until his junior year in college. Pursuing a degree in graphic design, Goode took an elective ceramics class, and was teaching wheel throwing by the end of the semester.

Stephen Heywood received his BS in ceramics from Southern Utah University (Cedar City) and his MFA in ceramics from Pennsylvania Western University (Edinboro). Selected publications that have featured his work include: 500 Cups, 500 Bowls, The Best of 500 Ceramics, Image Transfer on Clay, Printing on Clay, Clay Times, and Ceramics Monthly.

Forrest Lesch-Middelton earned his BFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and his MFA from Utah State University, Logan, Utah. In 2014, he was honored as Ceramicist of the Year byCeramics Monthlyand in 2017, Lesch-Middelton was awarded a McKnight Artist Fellowship for Ceramic Artists from Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Kristy Moreno received her AA from Santa Ana College (CA) and her BFA in ceramics from California State University (Chico). Moreno’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues, including MUZEO Museum and Cultural Center (Anaheim, CA), Glassell Gallery (Baton Rouge, LA), Lucy Lacoste Gallery (Concord, MA), Volery Gallery (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), and at Thinkspace Projects and Tlaloc Studios (Los Angeles).

Colleen Riley’s work is a reflection of her connection to the ever-changing rural environment surrounding her home studio in Eureka Township, Minnesota, 30 miles south of Minneapolis. Her pots celebrate the historic ceramic tradition of decorative botanical imagery by employing the patterns and textures of the Minnesota landscape—spring wildflowers, a carpet of decaying leaves in the woods, or the contours of a freshly plowed field.

Mark Shapiro has taught numerous workshops nationally and internationally and mentored many apprentices at his studio, Stonepool Pottery. He edited A Chosen Path: The Ceramic Art of Karen Karnes (University of North Carolina at Pembroke, 2010) and has published many articles. A 2019 Smithsonian Artist Resident Fellow and 2021 Craft Research Fund recipient, he co-curated Crafting Freedom: The Life and Legacy of Black Potter Thomas W. Commeraw at the New York Historical Society (2023).

Lars Voltz received his BS in art education at Bemidji State University (MN) then pivoted to study ceramics at Wichita State University (KS). In 2014, he earned his MFA, the art history portion of which was completed in Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.