Our Instructors

From the very first time that I touched clay at the age of eight, I knew that throwing pots would be my lifelong passion. Decades later, I am still excited by its seemingly infinite potential.

Throughout my career, ancient Egyptian, pre-Columbian, and Native American pottery have been a strong influence on my exploration of classically shaped pottery forms.

I begin my artistic process by throwing the clay into classic vessels that are as recognizable today as a thousand years ago. I then alter their form by pushing and pulling, and stretching the walls of the pot. When the clay dries to a leather-hard consistency, I carve into the walls to give the piece surface relief detail and texture. The last step involves glazing the completed forms with copper and iron-rich glazes, chosen to emphasize the organic and timeless nature of clay. Combining the ancient tradition of pottery making with my contemporary vision, my work integrates the past with the present.

Kevan Wilson is a dedicated functional potter whose commitment to the craft spans over five decades, having been actively throwing since 1970.  His long-standing relationship with the Yourist Studio Gallery is significant, where he has been a contributing member within the community for more than 20 years.  In addition to his own studio participation, he has jointly participated in the Ann Arbor Art Fair for 8 years.  He is passionate about sharing his expertise, having taught ceramic classes at Yourist for the last 15 years, mentoring new generations of potters in the basic artistry of the wheel.  

After teaching and coaching in the Ann Arbor Public School system for over forty years, Steve found a new joy in teaching classes at Yourist Studio. His clay journey actually started at Yourist studio as a student in 2002, with Kay. He finds making functional pottery to be most rewarding.

Elliott is a full-time ceramic studio artist living in Ypsilanti. He teaches our Advanced wheel class on Tuesday nights and Handbuilding on Thursday nights. In the studio, Elliott enjoys making animal sculptures and vessels, firing most of his work in our studio's new atmospheric Soda kiln.

Charlotte Grenier is a functional potter seeking to explore the connection clay vessels have with food, culture, and personal narrative. She explores form and surface to create objects that accentuate food and actively participate in our daily lives.

Charlotte’s most recent body of work focuses on constructing patterned surfaces reminiscent of nostalgic textiles.

I like to see my work in ceramics as a way to give tactile expression to my artistic ideas. Pieces may be thrown on the wheel, hand-built, or often a combination of both, depending on what best serves the form I’m trying to create. Clay offers endless possibilities, and I enjoy using different techniques to shape ideas into something physical and expressive.

In the Independent Study classes, I enjoy mentoring students and supporting them as they develop and navigate their own creative process.

I have a strong affinity for clay, and I especially enjoy working at the pottery wheel to make functional pieces meant for everyday use. My love for pottery began back in 2012 at Pioneer High School, where I took my first ceramics class. I studied studio art for two years at Kalamazoo College with an emphasis on ceramics, woodworking, and 3D object exploration, and later completed a ceramics internship at Pioneer High School. I earned my Honours Bachelor of Craft and Design in Ceramics in 2021 from Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. After graduation, I continued my studio practice at Yourist, where I teach and make wheel-thrown work for the home, kitchen, and garden.

Pottery has been a part of my life for over 20 years, and I have been teaching wheel throwing classes since 2022. My work has primarily focused on creating functional work focused on quality craftsmanship and simplicity of design. I get the most joy from sharing the fun of ceramics with others, and when teaching I aim to build an environment that encourages students to have fun, slow down, connect with others, and create their own unique works in the process.

Savanah Conrad is a ceramic artist currently residing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Originally from New England, she attended Saint Michael's College in Burlington, Vermont, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. 

In 2023, she left her day job to pursue ceramics full-time, taking up an internship at Yourist Pottery Studio and later starting to teach at Yourist Pottery Studio and the Village Potters Guild. She currently works out of her home studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The focus of her work is on form and texture, the latter created by carved lines and slip trailing. She is drawn to ceramics as an intersection of art, science, and design/architecture.

Laila Chalati is a hockey-playing geologist who loves to escape her desk job by handling clay. When it comes to pottery, Laila is aiming to make the most beautiful and comfortable mugs. She believes art should be accessible to the public and in everyone's cabinet, not just on display in museums. This is why she tends to make functional wares. Her hours spent at the studio are dedicated to trying new decorating methods, creating the *perfect* handle, and thinking about all the ways one interacts with their drinking vessel, from how you might cup it between sips, how you grab it off the table, what it's like to put it to your lips. She wants her pieces to be touched, used, appreciated, and ultimately loved.

Nancy Bulkley received her BFA from Alfred University. She has been teaching ceramics for over 30 years. She enjoys the contagious excitement students have learning to work with clay on the wheel and in handbuilding.

Richard is a maker and sustainability professional. He has worked in the United States, Vietnam, India, and the Netherlands, focusing on various areas of sustainability, and he strives to integrate these experiences into his ceramic work and teaching philosophy.