María Albornoz holds an MFA in ceramics from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture (Philadelphia, PA). At the core of María Albornoz's practice is an exploration of cultural identity and personal history. Born in Kansas and raised in Venezuela, Albornoz now resides in Philadelphia. There she weaves elements of her heritage into her ceramics, infusing each piece with echoes of memory and tradition. When not working in her basement studio, María teaches ceramics at The Clay Studio (Philadelphia, PA) and Black Hound Clay South (Philadelphia, PA).

Kurt Anderson received an MFA from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Trading the ocean of California for the mountains of North Carolina, Anderson grew up in Santa Rosa and now calls Bakersville, North Carolina home. His everyday ceramic objects feature technicolor imagery that playfully combines old and new: bold, sharply drawn characters that wouldn’t be out of place in graphic novels or street art are nestled within patterned backgrounds that nod back to the folk pottery traditions of China, Japan, and Persia.

Ray Brown was born in Houston, Texas and earned his BFA with honors from the University of Mississippi (Oxford) and studied under Matt Long. He then earned his MFA in studio art with an emphasis in ceramics at West Virginia University (Morgantown). Brown’s work has been shown nationally and internationally. He received the Studio Potter Merit Award at NCECA’s National Juried Student Exhibition, and was named a 2024: Emerging Artist by Ceramics Monthly. Brown currently works as an instructor and ceramic studio technician at the University of Mississippi.

Marissa Childers’s work explores moments of connection and intimacy while celebrating femininity and craft found within domestic spaces. She is often inspired by things society deems a craft or feminine such as, quilting, sewing, and decoration. The various textures and patterns she uses are intended to evoke a sense of joy and nostalgic comfort, while small hidden details draw viewers in for a closer look. Childers strives to make artwork that is elegant, yet inviting to the touch, so it may be easily woven into the lives of others.

“I describe my clay work as ‘ceremoniously functional,’ meaning there is an element of ritual involved while using my handmade pottery. Many of my pieces have an altered quality that expresses the softness of the clay and the atmospheric soda firing process. The imagery I use is a combination of tape or wax resist & glaze. [...] My studio practice is an integral part of my life generating rhythm, expression, mindfulness and a never-ending desire to create!”

Dane Hodges is a ceramic artist and educator working out of his home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. He was first introduced to clay at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Menomonie) where he received his BFA in ceramics. Hodges currently teaches ceramics at Wayzata High School (Plymouth, MN). His work is inspired by the modern sense of simplicity and functionality and exhibits subtlety throughout thrown and altered forms. From foot to lip, the lines mimic the soft transitions and colors one sees in nature while embracing the clean lines and edges of modern sensibilities.

Samuel Johnson studied painting and ceramics at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) before apprenticing with potter Richard Bresnahan. He honed his skills in Denmark and Japan, where he explored Scandinavian and Japanese ceramic styles. Johnson currently teaches at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (St Joseph, MN). His work represents a blend of control and natural variation, emphasizing the organic changes produced by the wood kiln. Johnson’s work has been shown in over 100 group and solo exhibitions and is included in the permanent collections of multiple museums.

Suze Lindsay’s formal ceramic studies started with a two-year CORE fellowship at Penland School of Craft (Bakersville, NC), followed by earning an MFA at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge). Lindsay subtly suggests figure and character by manipulating forms after they are thrown. Patterning, painted slips and glazes, and salt-firing enhance her forms. She currently lives and works at Fork Mountain Pottery. She and her late husband, and fellow potter, Kent McLaughlin, built the studio and gallery in the mountain ridges of western North Carolina.

Mathew Meunier grew up surrounded by makers and working for his carpenter father. After trading in his pickup truck for an accounting degree, Meunier stumbled upon a handmade pot in a friend’s kitchen. Immediately, he saw a familiar routine embedded in a new material. With little in the way of questioning, Meunier set out to learn a new craft. Naturally, his pots today are imbued with the same qualities as good carpentry: they are calm, comfortable, and unabashedly domestic. The purpose of Meunier’s work is to be in use and appreciated for the service they quietly perform in everyday life.

Taylor Mezo is a ceramic artist from Bradley, IL currently living in Pittsburgh, PA. In December 2019, she graduated with her BFA from Governors State University (University Park, IL). Using slab building and wheel-throwing techniques, their work has playful forms and geometric surface patterns. Mezo works primarily in funk-tional ceramic wares, made from red earthenware with a vibrant color palette. When she is not working in the studio, Mezo is probably scoping out a local classic car show for inspiration.

Sam Oliver received her BFA from Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC). She also completed a student study with a focus in ceramics at William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) while studying ceramics at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum (Williamsburg, VA). They currently reside in western North Carolina and are inspired by the diverse ecosystem. Oliver implements layered, high-contrast surfaces in her work to display the nuances of living amongst the native and invasive plant life.

Sam Thompson is a potter working in Appleton, Wisconsin. In 2013, he earned his BFA in ceramics from the Maine College of Art & Design (Portland). Thompson was hired by his alma mater to work as their ceramics department technician, studio manager, and teaching assistant for three years. He then moved to Asheville, North Carolina to continue his work at Bandana Pottery (Bakersville). Thompson was a recipient of a winter residency at the Penland School of Craft (Bakersville, NC) and the Belvedere Artist Grant from the Maine College of Art & Design.

Steven Young Lee draws on his experience of growing up as a second generation Korean American to inform his work. He explores the themes of place and belonging to reflect on his identity and, “the imperfect relationship regarding dualities of cultural association.” Lee was the Director of the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT) for 16 years where he maintained an active studio practice along with orchestrating an organization devoted to excellence in ceramics. His intentionally deconstructing vessels aim to challenge traditional craft protocols and question classical notions of beauty and perfection.