Keiko Inouye studied pottery at Wesleyan University and went on to become First Apprentice to renowned ceramicist Kaitaro Kojima in Soja, Japan. After the culmination of her 4 year apprenticeship she returned to NJ, where she focuses on wood fired ceramics, and working with fine dining chefs to design tableware that compliments and aligns with their vision. Chefs that have featured her ceramics include Melissa King, Robbie Felice, Hari Nayak, Sol Han and Craig Polignano. She is passionate about educating the next generation of ceramicists and teaches at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, NJ.

Shannon Mililani Brownlee had a career as an internationally recognized journalist before building a studio in Washington, D.C., to focus on ceramics. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, she was immersed in the arts of Oceania and Asia and a multi-racial culture that celebrates the natural world. Her pottery reflects her years in the islands, echoing elemental forces like wind and waves, and referencing the forms of living creatures.  Her practice is deeply influenced by the demands of wood firing, which reinforces the connection between a pot and its natural origins, and she is currently constructing a traditional anagama kiln. She is represented by the Cummings Gallery and the School House Gallery in Star, N.C., and her work has been included in numerous juried exhibitions.

Eike Maas, born in rural Pennsylvania, is a ceramic artist, furniture maker, and architectural designer. His works are deeply connected to specific places through their materiality. Eike earned a B.Arch from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia in 2014 and pursued a career in architecture and furniture fabrication in Atlanta, New York City, and Los Angeles, collaborating internationally. While living in Death Valley, California from 2020-2021, he became fascinated with the area's geology, leading him to explore wild clay and minerals. Eike’s collaborative wood works have been exhibited at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair and the Arch Digest Show in NYC, and in Grenoble, France.

Eike’s work embraces a philosophy of guidance rather than control, aiming to reconnect with meaningful places, as reflected in the wood firing process and his use of wild clay.

Jenna Pyzowski is a New York-based ceramic artist whose work explores the intersection of the human body and material memory. Through her figurative sculptures, she uses clay to reflect the fragility and permanence of life, often incorporating antique aesthetics and personal references to examine how objects preserve memory. Jenna holds a BFA in Ceramics from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and has studied abroad in Italy and Ireland. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows both nationally and internationally, and she remains actively involved in the ceramic community through teaching and woodfiring workshops.

Judy Weddle is ceramic artist based in New York City where she works at Greenwich House Pottery in the West Village. She grew up in Western Colorado in a part of the country where a confluence of the Rocky Mountains, fertile Colorado River valley and sunbaked desert landscape have inspired artists for centuries. As the daughter of a horticulturist, Judy had her hands in soil from a young age, but it took many years for that influence to find expression in clay. She had first contact with pottery as an art form as a teenager through her brother who studied with some of the West’s early experimenters in “American Raku.” Judy followed a more practical path, studying political science and philosophy, plus a little art, at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and receiving an MBA from the Wharton Graduate School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. She enjoyed a successful career in investment banking and executive search before becoming a potter.

Mark Robert Rowntree is the founder of the Philmont Clay Collective, a vibrant community of potters based in the heart of Philmont, NY. With a passion for making ceramics accessible to all, Mark established the collective to provide a welcoming space where everyone can explore the art of pottery. Under his leadership, the Philmont Clay Collective operates a ceramics studio and kiln grove, offering classes and workshops with a unique "pay what you can" model. This approach ensures that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from experiencing the joy of working with clay. Mark's dedication to fostering creativity and community spirit has made the collective a cornerstone of the local arts scene.

Trevor is a high school ceramics teacher and practicing wood-fire potter. While creative development and discovery are critical factors, fostering the development of a thriving wood-fire community in Woodbridge, Connecticut is the path he has chosen in seeking personal fulfillment. As ideas are exchanged and experiences are shared…bonds are formed and we grow together. What’s better than that?

Frank Olt is an artist and professor at Long Island University whose studio practice focuses on ceramics and painting. He is a former artist-in- residence at MoMA P.S.1. He studied with Bauhaus artist Rose Krebs. Olt exhibited and has collectors nationally and internationally. His commissions include all ceramic art at the 23rd & Ely subway station through the NYC Arts for Transit program and Bellevue Hospital. His work was exhibited recently in a one-person show in the Contemporary Gallery at Nassau County Museum of Art.

Min Choi, born in Seoul, Korea, is a Brooklyn-based Ceramic artist. She received her MFA in Ceramics from Kent State University and her BFA in Ceramics from the State University of New York at New Paltz, and a BA in Industrial design in Korea. She has taught as well as many studios around the USA and South Korea. She taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Akron and currently teaching at Hofstra University, 92NY, The Clay Space, and The Brick House.

Mandy Henson, originally from England, developed a deep passion for art and design during her formative years. She pursued her artistic journey at esteemed institutions, earning a BFA in Fine Arts Education from Parsons School of Design and the School of Visual Arts. Furthering her dedication to the arts, she continued her education at Long Island University, where she obtained her Masters in Fine Arts. Mandy's artistic perspective has been enriched by her diverse experiences. Born in England, she later spent a decade living in Australia, where she was surrounded by renowned artists who influenced her creative development.

Dan Christoffel is an internationally exhibited American artist and board member of the Art League of Long Island, as well as a guest lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Former positions of his include president of the Long Island Art Teachers Association as well as curator for the partnership for Cultural Development at the Chelsea Center in Muttontown. Christoffel earned the Long Island Supervisors “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Adelphi University, and was named Teacher of the Year by a number of organizations including the Long Island Art Teachers Association, the Parent Teacher Student Association, the Kiwanis Club, and the Bellmore-Merrick school district.

Kiichi Takeuchi was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to New York in 1998. He holds both a BS and MS in Computer Science from Long Island University. For over 19 years, he has worked as a Senior Software Developer and an Adjunct Professor at Long Island University. After developing apps and software for 24 years, Kiichi decided to become a BFA student in order to pursue studying ceramic art in 2022. He is also in charge of maintaining and leading the study group of a 3-D printer at the Craft Center. Kiichi actively participates in Wood Firing and Kiln building at Trevor Youngberg's Anagama in Connecticut. His wood-fired whiskey cups are exhibited at the Del Ray Artisans National Ceramic Show in VA, and he presented at NCECA 2023 and 2024.