Lejia Dongzhu
he/him
Our goal is to provide easy and simple access to clay, and guide those into the world of Ceramics.
Studio Manager - she/her
Clay and I have been in love a long time. The texture soothes me and the craft of making brings an honest joy to my heart. Throw in a little pattern, a splash of color and I’m swooning. Throughout the 18 years that I’ve been a part of the Madison clay community I’ve been able to keep that love alive in various capacities. From designing and decorating for a local production company, to creating my own line of functional ware as a solo business gal, to teaching and running several community studios, I’ve seen all sides of ceramics. But mostly I’m so grateful for any chance to help others find their love of clay too.
Claire Roszkowski
Studio Instructor - she/her
I fell in love with ceramics on my very first day of high school in Racine, WI. By the end of the first week, I had already rearranged my schedule for the next semester to take more ceramics. I loved the clay itself and it’s endless opportunities, but maybe even more so, I loved the way community builds in a pottery studio. This held true for my ceramics courses at UW-Madison, from which I received a degree in Art Education. Now, I teach ceramics full time at Madison West High School. Go Regents!
Phil Lyons
Studio Guest/Instructor - he/him
Phil received his B.F.A. from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and his M.F.A. from the U.W. Madison. He's been teaching art at his alma mater, Madison West High for the past 17 years. In addition to working in clay, he paints murals, renovates houses and performs with several Madison area bands.
Matt Zulke
Studio Instructor - he/him
In college, I discovered that working with my hands in three dimensional space came more naturally to me than drawing or painting . Sculpture opened my mind to the possibilities, and ceramics soon after became my favorite medium. I love the versatility of clay; how it can be worked and reworked, added to or subtracted from, and how easily it lends itself to taking the ideas in my mind and putting them into form and space. My work is often organic and botanically influenced, directly tied to my other passion, plants. I'm excited to be teaching and look forward to sharing my knowledge with everyone who comes to visit the studio!
Lily-Mae Abels
Studio Instructor - she/her
I fell in love with dirt during my childhood in North Carolina. Clay found a way into my soul while watching and learning from master potters and craftspeople in my community. I received a B.F.A with a focus in ceramics from The Ohio State University.
Since moving to Madison, I spend most of my time working at ArtWorking, a local non-profit, playing ultimate frisbee, and throwing pots in my basement. I love how clay has the power to connect people and cross the invisible walls that the fine art world often lives within. I primarily make functional work, but never want to take things too seriously, so I love experimenting with new forms and techniques. I go by Lily-Mae and my pronouns are she/her.
Atlas Weiss-Maier
(He/They)
I fell in love with pottery right here at Dongzhu. It’s quickly become a staple for my wellness. When you’re on the wheel, the clay feels whatever tension you’re holding in your body and you’ve got to tend to that. It’s a profound gift to have a practice that pushes you to be so mindful every day. My love of teaching predates my love of pottery; in a past life I studied equitable teaching practices in STEM and I taught physics. I feel so lucky to now share my love of pottery with others through teaching!
Michelle Roberts
Studio Instructor - she/her
My experience working with clay began more than 30 yrs ago taking college classes, creating a working studio & selling functional pieces through art shows, galleries, and stores throughout the Midwest and eventually teaching in various studios in the Madison area.
After taking several years off from making clay work, I am thrilled to be teaching again in a local studio.
Jeff Horstmann
Studio Instructor -he/him
Jeff is a full time stay at home dad to his two young daughters and their cat, Prince Charming. Over the last eight years he has worked with, and taught kiln formed glass and other glass art part time. Jeff had been introduced to ceramics in various classes in the past and felt an instant love of the process. He is excited to reconnect with the pottery wheel and use his teaching experience to share that passion with others.
Maddie Yogerst
Studio Instructor - she/her
I took my first ceramics class in high school and absolutely fell in love with clay. The flexibility and forgiveness of clay is what makes the art so peaceful and relaxing. I love teaching what I’ve learned to people, as well as learning new things for myself along the way. I hope everybody who is welcomed into Dongzhu has a fun and memorable experience with clay.
Caitlin Mary Margarett
Studio Instructor - she/her/hers
I fell in love with ceramics a little over a decade ago, and have since gone through all of my academic art career with clay as the foundation of my work. I moved to Madison from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to complete my MFA in 4D (which encompasses performance art, video art, photography, etc.). While I'm a multimedia artist, I always find myself coming back to clay when I need to, quite literally, recenter. My love for ceramics has taken me all over the country and internationally, where I have both exhibited and conducted graduate research. I believe ceramics can do a lot of things, but what it has primarily done for me is connect me with community, places, and individuals- making such a big world feel small and very manageable. Teaching is at the center of that sense of community, and I am so glad I can have that here. Prior to teaching at Dongzhu, I was a resident artist at the Iowa Ceramics Center and Glass studio, where I taught wheel throwing and tile making to all ages.
After I complete my MFA in spring 2024, I am moving to London, England, to pursue a PhD in art practice.
Melissa
Wendt
Studio Instructor - she/her/hers
My first experience with pottery was in High School, and I was immediately hooked! While in College I focused the majority of my work on teapots that were designed to be quirky and represent relationships in my life. I use wheel throwing and hand building to create my teapots, which is my main creative focus. I'm passionate about texture and I'm always trying out new ways to incorporate those elements into my work. My favorite part of ceramics is continually learning new techniques to bring a signature style to my pieces. I'm excited to be a part of the team at Dongzhu! I've very much enjoyed being able to bring the joy of working with clay to so many people for the first time, and encourage them to pursue it if the experience starts an artistic spark!
Leo Rohn-Capellaro
Studio Instructor -he/him
I got my start in ceramics at East High School and fell in love with clay soon after. I’ve been making ceramics for 8 years now and I’ve taught at multiple pottery studios In Madison. I mostly create functional wheel-thrown ceramics with an emphasis on the movement of clay through faceted and altered forms. I enjoy wood fire and other atmospheric types of firing. I am going to school at Edgewood College to get my degree in art education.
Clara Culligan
Studio Instructor - she/her/hers
I discovered my passion for ceramics three years ago in Chicago. In August 2022, I made the exciting move to Madison, eager to connect with fellow artists, exchange ideas, and inspire one another. I love blending wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques to create interesting outcomes. As an instructor, I am thrilled to share my knowledge and passion for ceramics with you. There is something truly rewarding about guiding others through the creative process and witnessing their growth and transformation. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist looking to expand your skills, let's dive into the world of ceramics together and unleash our creativity!