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ABOUT US
Core Clay has been serving the city of Cincinnati since 2005. Through its many transformations over the last 15 years, we have worked diligently to build a clay studio ready to serve the needs of our ceramics community. Originally founded in the neighborhood of Walnut Hills by owner Laura Davis, Core Clay has been dedicated to education, outreach, and service.
It is this mission that we bring with us to our new location and neighborhood of Norwood. After outgrowing our original building, we officially moved to our new home on Montgomery Road in our 15th year of operation. With the move, we now have the opportunity to achieve the dreams that were previously so unobtainable. Such as our new Bailey gas kiln, new electric kilns, event space, private classrooms, and an overall increase in space and resources for every department within Core Clay.
Click here to find out more about the classes and services we offer.
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At this time all of our employees have now received their COVID vaccinations.
Retail/Studio: 1912 Hudson Ave.
Gallery: 3846 Montgomery Rd.
Norwood, OH 45212
Hours of Operation:
10:00am-9:00pm Mon-Fri
9:00am-7:00pm Sat
10:00-6:00 Sun
OUR STAFF
LAURA DAVIS
Studio Owner
Laura has been working in clay since 2002. Her work influenced by stained glass windows, celtic designs, cut glass, and the state of our world. She has become a little obsessed with stencils lately.
JANE LESTER
Keeper of Knowledge
Jane was our second studio member when Core first opened . She makes Reiki infused pottery.
She has been known to frequent the Festival of Light shows around the Ohio area. She also keeps us sane at the studio. Without her, no one would know what to pay for their membership, the bills would go unanswered, and we would be in complete chaos.
EMILY HOBART
Residency Director & Studio/Gallery Coordinator
Emily started out here as an Artist in Residence, and we liked her so much, we asked her to stay. Emily currently acts as our Residency Director and Studio/Gallery Coordinator. (She helps a little bit with everything.)
AMY PELLEGRINO
Residency Director & Instructor
Amy Pellegrino is a Cincinnati based artist, having received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Spatial Arts from Northern Kentucky University. She primarily works in ceramic, both on the pottery wheel and hand-building/sculpting. She recently graduated from an Artist in Residence here at Core Clay to full employee. She currently acts as an Instructor and Residency Director.
MIKE O'NEIL
Instructor
Mike specializes in functional stoneware and earthenware pieces with a focus towards surface decoration. He currently works as our Lead Instructor for Monday night beginner wheel classes.
NICHOLAUS WESTERKAMP
Head of Glazing & Beginner Wheel Instructor
Nicholaus is in charge of keeping up with all our glazing needs here at Core. She's also a pretty amazing teacher to our beginner wheel students.
JASON TRAUTZ
Beginner Wheel Instructor
A longtime professional artist in the Cincinnati area, Jason is a first-class instructor in all things clay.
DANA MAKSTALLER
Beginner Wheel Instructor
Dana has been with us for years now! First as a beginner student, then as a member, and now she's teaching her own beginner wheel class. We're so happy to have helped Dana start her artistic journey in clay. Now, she's ready to help her students begin theirs.
ELIZABETH GIVEN
Artist In Residence & Kiln Boss
Liz is one of the recent additions to our Artist in Residence program. New to Cincinnati, she moved here after receiving her Masters at the University of Dallas. Liz has been a badass since arriving here at Core a week before the pandemic took us into lock-down. She's helped us tremendously as we've made our way through these weird days.
HANNAH STABER
Artist in Residence
Hannah is one of our Artists in Residence here at Core. She made the massive move here all the way from Vienna and we're so excited to have her fresh, creative energy here in the studio!
Hannah aims to invoke a sense of wonder and other worldliness with her work. She is influenced by the non-human-made qualities in her environment: exuberant and diverse natural textures and organic patterns that emerge from growth, along with the juxtaposition of chaos and symmetry in nature.
SAM BUGANSKI
Artist In Residence
Our newest addition to our residency program! Sam is a recent graduate from Otterbein University with a BA in Ceramics.
MO DAVIS
Chief Security Officer
Mo is the best boy. Sure, he'll bark at you as you come through the door, but only because he's so excited to see you. Please don't mind, but do respect, his gargantuan size. (Yup, he's a Great Dane)
