The Friends of Friend Assembly
Sarah
Hi Friends! I am the owner of Friend Assembly. I have been an art teacher for almost 15 years, but have been an artist as long as I can remember.
I received my BA in Art Education from Colorado State University in 2007. I then taught elementary and middle school visual arts in both Colorado and NYC working in a variety of media. In 2016, I switched primarily to working in ceramics and started teaching in ceramic studios in Portland, OR and most recently, San Francisco,CA. In SF, I taught classes at other studios, as well as managed my own studio with 10+ professional potters. I sell a lot of their work in the shop now too! The Friends of Friend Assembly :)
I have my own line of ceramics that I started making and selling in 2016 called, The Faceplanters. I have sold my work in 5 countries and with over 60 stores, including Anthropolgie and Nordstrom. Although, I no longer work with large retailers, I still sell to many smaller boutiques and right here in my own shop!
My family and I are originally from Denver, and are so happy to be back after almost 12 years away! We moved back in the summer of 2022, and opened Friend Assembly Studio & Shop at The Stanley Marketplace in November of 2022.
It’s been an amazing journey so far and I have been thrilled to see the excitement folks have to come play with clay! Thank you for being a part of our wonderful crew of Friends! Hope to see you in the studio soon.
quynh
Howdy! I'm Quynh, and I'm the studio manager here at Friend Assembly. My journey in ceramics has been a delightful adventure, combining my Colorado roots, artistic family background, and a passion for working with children. It has also been a journey marked by a commitment to inclusivity and celebrating diverse voices.
I'm proud to call Colorado home, having graduated from East High School right here in Denver. I have five years of experience in the child care field, where I discovered my deep-seated passion for working with and teaching children. At Friend Assembly, I've been blessed with the opportunity to merge my love for ceramics with my love for teaching little ones.
In my own ceramic creations, I primarily utilize hand-building techniques. Through this process, I've developed a signature line of ceramic cowboy hats known as "Lil' Wranglers," which I proudly offer through my company, After Hours Ceramics.
My Vietnamese heritage has deeply influenced my artistic style and the pieces I create. Additionally, I draw inspiration from the rich tradition of ceramics in New Mexico, infusing my work with elements that pay homage to this vibrant culture.
I have recently taken on the role of teaching BIPOC-exclusive classes here at Friend Assembly. In my ongoing commitment to inclusivity and celebrating diversity in ceramics, this is a class I am very passionate about teaching. Please visit our workshops page to see the BIPOC specific classes available now.
Thank you for joining me on this creative journey!
nathan
Meet Nathan, an artist-educator with a BA in Ceramics from Muhlenberg College and a Masters in Education – he's basically a pottery jedi with a teaching degree! Nathan has over a decade of experience hand building and throwing. When he's not at the studio, you can catch him enjoying Indian cuisine, playing board games, Ultimate Frisbee, and rock climbing.
shauna
Shauna has taught ceramics for 15 years to kids and adults in a variety of settings from public schools to private studios. She also has a MFA in ceramics and is a practicing artist whose work has been displayed in; the USA, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
becky
I received my BFA and my teaching certificate from Metropolitan State University of Denver and since graduating, I have been teaching at a kindergarten-8th grade expeditionary learning school in the Park Hill neighborhood. I try to integrate clay into as much of my curriculum as possible, mainly focusing on hand building techniques with all grade levels. I love being able to explore students’ ideas, playing with materials and getting messy in the Studio! When I am not teaching, I am usually heading to the mountains for a hike, a weekend camping trip or staying local to connect with friends or practice throwing on the pottery wheel.
jenna
Hello! My name is Jenna and I'm excited to help you bring your creations to life through clay! While I am new to ceramics as a profession, I have been playing with clay for many years. I enjoy testing my own skills by creating different functional pieces. It's by far one of my favorite mediums and it brings me so much joy to share my passion with others. Come in and create with me!
LARA
Hii! My name is Lara! I’m the Sculpture teacher here at Friend Assembly. I first found my love for sculpting in my sophomore year of High School. In the heart of the most angsty years of my life, it brought stillness and peace into my life. I got my B.F.A with a concentration in Ceramics with my focus being figure sculpting.
One of my first sculptures when I was younger was a face. I have a distinct memory of my high school Ceramic teacher telling me, “Faces and bodies are your thing.” And I never stopped sculpting them since. The most vulnerable parts of ourselves, the scars, the ridges, and everything in between are the most beautiful things for me to sculpt. There is so much beauty in being exactly how we are.
For many of us, when we think of Ceramics, we think of the wheel. I want to showcase the beauty of sculpting and how it allows us to continue to play without limitations as adults. I hope to see y’all in one of my classes soon!