Ceramics
Ceramics Studio at Anderson Ranch, Aspen / Snowmass
The ceramics studio at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, located in Snowmass Village near Aspen, Colorado, is a fully equipped professional ceramics studio designed to support immersive workshops and advanced studio practice. The facility offers dedicated workspaces, high-quality kilns, glazing areas, and technical infrastructure for artists working in clay across a range of processes and firing methods.
Interested in enrolling? Explore the full schedule of Ceramics Workshops at Anderson Ranch.
In 1966, American ceramicist Paul Soldner selected the site for what is now Anderson Ranch Arts Center, forming the foundation for a thriving ceramics program. Then and now, Anderson Ranch is a place where students exchange ideas and examine ceramic art and pottery techniques. It has always been a place where seminal moments of growth happen in an artist’s creative and critical thinking. Here, both beginning and emerging artists gain strong fundamental support, while established artists achieve new perspectives and advance their techniques.
The Ranch Ceramics team provides support, feedback and technical problem-solving, giving each artist the freedom to experiment and grow. Our primary focus is on personal advancement through a process of creative discovery.
The Soldner Ceramics Center makes up more than 10,000 square feet in three buildings with 3 studio spaces and 1 kiln yard; Soldner Studio, Long Studio, Sorenson Studio and Lyeth/Lyon Kiln Building. Soldner and Long studios are used for wheel-throwing, hand-building, or general ceramics creativity. Sorenson studio is equipped with five PotterBot 3d clay printers. The Lyeth/Lyon kiln building is equipped with gas, electric, soda and wood kilns for both oxidation and reduction firing at all temperature ranges. The Ranch offers three wood kilns including a gas/wood hybrid kiln, three gas reduction kilns, one soda kiln and eleven high-temperature electric kilns.
Don’t know where to start? View the skill levels for ceramics workshops.
Anderson Ranch Arts Center is a historic, rustic campus that features gravel pathways and uneven terrain that may pose challenges for individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. We strive to provide accommodations to ensure all guests can access and enjoy our programs and facilities. With advance notice, our staff can offer personalized assistance and coordinate access to studios and campus spaces. For questions or to request an accommodation, please contact us at (970) 923-3181 or [email protected].
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a 20% tuition discount for summer one- or two-week adult ceramics workshops for NCECA members at the student membership level or above. Please email [email protected] with your NCECA membership information prior to registering and we will send you a promo code to complete registration with your discount applied. You are also welcome to call 970-924-5089 to register after verifying your membership with us. **Please note, this discount must be approved prior to registering and cannot be applied retroactively. NCECA discount does not apply to Advanced Mentored Studies programs or Destination Workshops, nor can it be combined with any other discount, scholarship or special offer.
Joanne Seongweon Lee
Studio Coordinator, Ceramics
Originally from South Korea, Joanne Seongweon Lee received her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and was awarded the Franz Rising Star Project Scholarship: Outstanding Performance in Porcelain Design. Lee attended residencies at the Korea Ceramics Foundation, Icheon Cerapia in Korea, and at Sonoma Ceramics in Sonoma, CA. Formerly an instructor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA,she is currently ceramics coordinator at Anderson Ranch Arts Center.
Anderson Ranch Campus
Upcoming Workshops
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O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Jun 22 - Jul 3, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Introduction to Clay Body Chemistry
Matthew Katz
Tuition $1,795
Code C0404-26
Students dive into the science behind ceramics in this clay-focused workshop, going beyond myths to gain a solid, scientific understanding of how clay bodies work. This course is designed to empower participants with the knowledge to control materials and optimize studio practices as they learn the origins, composition, and properties of earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. They learn how to analyze and apply clay formulas for throwing, construction, and casting. Students will master the principles of heat and temperature and learn to identify and correct common clay flaws, building a strong, fact-based foundation to transform their work.
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II
Level II
Students have a basic understanding of forming techniques, such as throwing and hand building. Students have taken one or two ceramics classes or workshops.
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III
Level III
Students have significant experience with clay forming techniques, such as throwing, hand building and modeling. Students are comfortable with ceramics equipment, such as wheels, extruders and slab rollers. Students are self-starting with some formal training and have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.
Jun 29 - Jul 10, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Thrown and Altered Forms for Soda Firing
Stuart Gair
Tuition $1,795
Code C0505-26
During the workshop, participants discuss making forms that can be enhanced by the soda-firing process as well as what slips and materials to use for different effects in the firing. The workshop demonstrates a wide array of techniques for throwing and altering forms and gives students the opportunity to practice them. Vessels and sculptures will be created during the first week, followed by soda firings the following week.
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O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Jul 6 - 10, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Prototyping in Clay: A Hand Building Design Intensive and Professional Practices
Bari Ziperstein
Tuition $1,300
Code C0606-26
In this intensive class on product design in clay, students focus on a combination of professional practices and hand-building strategies, learning the techniques behind crafting unique, tabletop-sized vessels. Through demonstrations, we learn essential design principles around shape, form, and silhouettes, and techniques for hand-building and coil-building. Participants receive personalized guidance and feedback on projects while developing technical and problem-solving skills. The goal is for each participant to complete a minimum of two models and two prototypes.