Meet our Instructors and Support Staff, who help us keep
our classes, studio, and gallery, running smoothly:

ADAM LEDFORD / he/him / Instructor Adam has been an amazing, dedicated, assistant and instructor for over a dozen years. A much beloved teacher with a big following, he is now the studio manager at our Brewerytown studio, as well as having his own studio in that space, and also teaching classes there. His work reflects his happy energy, personal glazes, and inspired surface design ideas. Follow Adam on Instagram @adamledfordceramics.

EMMA PILON / she/her / Instructor Emma is a ceramic artist and instructor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with over 15 years of experience working with clay. She earned her B.F.A. in Ceramic Arts from Marywood University in 2017, was the main studio assistant for Neighborhood Potters for three years, and recently served as the Production Manager for Farmhouse Pottery in Woodstock, Vermont. Emma creates functional pottery featuring brilliantly colored surfaces inspired by mid-century modern interiors, textile designs, and graphic patterning. Her work investigates repetition and interruption, using the vessel as a canvas for her formal explorations while bringing the art intimately into the hands of the user. Emma teaches ceramics at The Clay Studio in South Kensington and at The Neighborhood Potters. Her professional development includes workshops at Anderson Ranch Art Center and an assistantship at Penland School of Craft. Follow Emma on Instagram at @epilon_ceramics.

DANIELLE CRITELLI / she/her / Gallery Shop Assistant Danielle is a teacher and teaching assistant with us, as well as a gallery assistant. Originally from Monmouth County, NJ, Danielle has lived in Philadelphia since graduating from Saint Joseph’s University in 2013, where now works full time. Her main work is sustaining partnerships with local agencies and overseeing service-learning placements. Since fall 2020 she’s been teaching as an adjunct professor in management/organizational behavior. She loves taking day trips to the ocean and going on bike rides through Philadelphia parks. Inspired by two high school ceramics classes, she took her first class at Neighborhood Potters in 2017 and hasn’t looked back since! She quickly became part of our studio family!

SELAH BOWMAN / she/her / Studio Assistant Selah is a recent graduate of Community College of Philadelphia, and is pursuing her final degree in art at Tyler School of Art, where she will focus on clay as a material for sculpture. She is a gallery and studio assistant, helping us with various projects at both our Fairmount and Brewerytown studios. Selah joined our studio family in September, 2023.

ERIK WRIGHT / he/him / Instructor Erik came to Philly from California in 2017 where he worked as a studio tech in a number of different kinds of clay studios. From 2014-2016 he apprenticed as a production potter, honing his technical throwing skills and learning the ins and outs of what it's like to run a small-scale studio pottery.
After spending a few years bouncing around in the Philly clay scene, he started his own studio in South Philly where he focuses on the production of functional tableware.
As a teacher, he cares about careful technique and aims to foster a strong understanding of the ceramics process. Overall, he just loves pots.
Follow Erik on Instagram @wc.pottery.

KELLY ANN GARTLAND / she/her / Instructor Kelly graduated from the University of the Arts with a degree in Sculpture and a concentration in education. Since College, Kelly has been teaching ceramics in Moorestown NJ. Kelly is a passionate educator and maker, specializing in clay, and dabbling in bookmaking, metals, and many different mediums. Her current work is both wheel thrown and hand built, taking loose inspiration from the repeating motifs of the middle east. Kelly joined Neighborhood Potter’s teaching staff in 2024, and loves sharing her ceramic knowledge and experience with the local community members. Follow Kelly on Instagram @KellyGartlandCeramics.

AUGUST MENDEZ / he/they / Instructor - Children’s Classes August Mendez is a Latino-American multidisciplinary artist from South Florida. He began studying ceramics in 2015 and earned his BFA from the University of Central Florida in 2021. He has been teaching professionally since 2021 and relocated to Philadelphia in 2025. In addition to clay, they also love digital illustration, printmaking, and bookbinding. When they aren’t teaching, they enjoy reading, writing, biking, tinkering, and walking their orange cat Kirby. Follow August on Instagram @augmendez.

STEPHANIE GUZMAN / she/her / Studio and Gallery Shop Assistant Stephanie took her first class in pottery at summer camp when she was 12 and loved it. She started pursuing it more in college and now works in a shared studio at Blackhound Clay West. Her work is primarily functional incorporating texture into her surfaces since she is heavily influenced by nature and natural textiles. Stephanie joined Neighborhood Potters staff in Spring of 2026. Follow Stephanie on Instagram @stephs_studio.

SOFIA SHAPIRO / she/they / Studio Assistant Sofia recently graduated from Community College of Philadelphia, and is now a practicing artist. Their work exists through two main avenues: one is a pottery practice made with the intent of practicing skills to create a sellable product. The other is larger scale portfolio work, like lighting and ceramic furniture. Sofia is fascinated with shapes and their relationships to each other, and the work has geometrical features. Their work reflects the learning and growth that happens every day as a working artist. Sofia joined Neighborhood Potters staff in September, 2025. Follow Sofia on Instagram @sofiaraeceramics

KERRI RAFFERTY she/her / Gallery Shop Assistant Kerri loves clay for its immediacy - how it responds to and records touch - and the amazing community surrounding the craft. Her work is primarily wheel-thrown and often includes altered elements or texture that she adds as she plays in the clay. Recently, she has been experimenting with atmospheric and high-firings to introduce a greater sense of spontaneity to her work. Overall, Kerri strives to make pottery that balances function and character.
She works in a shared studio space at Blackhound South. Kerri joined the Neighborhood Potters staff in Spring of 2026. Follow Kerri on Instagram @kerriraff.

EMILY KLEAVER / she/they / Studio Assistant Emily Kleaver is a primarily ceramic and sculptural artist who is based in Philadelphia, PA. She has been lucky enough to be part of the Philly ceramics community since 2019 and received her BFA in Ceramics from Tyler School of Art & Architecture in 2021. Kleaver utilizes a concept-driven practice that incorporates contrasting clay bodies, codified imagery, and a variety of materials including performance, to give physical space to seemingly ephemeral and fleeting ideas and examine societal systems. Most recently, she has taught ceramics at Black Hound Clay Studio West and Neighborhood Potters.

LORIN KLEIN / they/them / Gallery Shop Assistant Lorin [they/them] is a non-binary photographer living in North Philly and working up and down the east coast. Lorin loves primary colors, natural light, and the Jersey shore. They grew up in central New Jersey and moved to Philadelphia in 2003 to pursue their Bachelor of Sciences in Design and Merchandising at Drexel University. Since then, their career has taken many paths and lead them to the occasional wonderful destination. In 2023 they graduated from Temple University with a Master of Social Work, and are especially interested in gender-affirming care. Their creative body of work centers body liberation and LGBTQ+ identities. They have shown work at Gravy Studio, Lot 49, American Sardine Bar, The Warner Gallery, The Artists’ Circle, and Vox Populi, and have been published in the Luna Collective Magazine.

JESSE WARECH / he/him / Adjunct Intructor Jesse Warech is part of our adjunct teaching and assistant staff. Jesse is a ceramic artist who’s work focuses mainly on the functionality and materiality of clay. Primarily firing his work in a wood fire kiln, Jesse’s goal is to make the most of the raw materials used in ceramics. At the same time, he also attempts to make objects that will bring people joy and comfort during moments of routine in their daily life. Follow Jesse on Instagram @jrwarech.

VIVIAN PURCELL / she/her / Adjunct Instructor Vivian Purcell is part of our adjunct teaching and assistant staff. Vivian is a ceramic artist based in Philadelphia, whose work is focused on material and surface investigations through wood firing. Her work aims to bring joy to people's lives through the daily use of handmade ceramic objects meant for the home. Follow Vivian on Instagram @vivian.l.purcell.

NEIGHBORHOOD POTTERS EVENT HISTORY
Sandi and Neil host a few events each year highlighting local artists, and they also have a big December sale when they transform their workspace into a showroom. To be notified of their events, just go to our “Contact” page and sign up for our mailing list.
We do not bombard you with emails, just a notice when we have events!
Potters who have previously shown with Sandi and Neil in the past are:
Ellen Shankin, Nick Joerling, McKenzie Smith, Linda McFarling, Susan Filley, Lisa Naples, Royce Yoder, Michael Connelly, Kari Radasch & Brenda Quinn, Melissa Mytty, Victoria Smith, Sasha Barrett, Jessica Hans, Adam Ledford, Stefani Threet, Nathan Willever, Anne Koszalka, John Anthony, Kat Harrison, Anthony Romero, Ryan Wheeler & Dominique Ellis.

Below are photos from previous Events.