Meet Our Artists
Ephraim Pottery is proud to showcase the work of our ten current artists. Each piece bears the unique stamps of its creators:
The potter’s mark: Impressed initials inside a circle
The sculptor’s mark: Italicized initials impressed into the clay
The glazer’s mark: Underlined script initials in glaze
Our diverse team of skilled artists brings unique perspectives and techniques to our collaborative process. Each artist contributes their distinct expertise, enriching our creations with depth and variety.
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Kevin Hicks
Kevin, the founder and primary potter of Ephraim Pottery since 1996, is deeply influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, both in aesthetics and lifestyle. His true passion lies in throwing pots on the wheel, where he constantly seeks to innovate and bring new techniques to his projects. As a designer, Kevin has a strong interest in creating pieces with innovative and architectural qualities, merging his love for pottery with elements of structural design. His work at Ephraim Pottery reflects a commitment to high-quality, handcrafted pieces that blend traditional Arts and Crafts aesthetics with refined craftsmanship. Kevin’s dedication to both preserving traditional techniques and elevating the art of handmade ceramics has shaped Ephraim Pottery’s reputation for unique, artistically crafted pieces.
Laura Klein
Laura Klein, who joined Ephraim Pottery in 2000, is renowned for her bold sculpting style characterized by high relief and flowing, organic designs, particularly excelling in creating small creatures with big personalities. Much of her inspiration comes from the time she spends immersed in nature on her farmette, which serves as both her home and a wellspring of creative ideas. Laura nurtures a diverse array of animals on her property, including pigs, horses, chickens, roosters, dogs, cats, and fish, all of which influence her artistic vision. In addition to caring for her animals, she is passionate about gardening and foraging, allowing her to observe and interact with nature’s intricate details that often find their way into her sculptural work. Laura’s unique pieces at Ephraim Pottery reflect not just her technical skill, but also her intimate understanding of and deep connection to the natural world that surrounds her daily life.
Becky Hansen
Joining Ephraim Pottery in 2006 from the historic Van Briggle Pottery in Colorado, Becky Hansen is our most experienced glazer. While primarily focused on glazing, she also excels in vase sculpting. Becky’s subtle artistic sensitivity has birthed some of our most beloved glaze combinations, including Autumn Reflections, Birch, and Curdled Amethyst. Her work exemplifies the delicate balance between texture and color in ceramic art.
Leah Purisch
Leah Purisch, with us since 2011, brings a unique background in oil painting to our team. Her mastery of two-dimensional techniques and composition has allowed Ephraim Pottery to expand our repertoire, introducing intricate tile designs and captivating scenic vases. Leah’s work beautifully bridges the gap between traditional painting and ceramic artistry.
Alek Schroeder
Since joining us in 2015, Alek Schroeder has continually honed his throwing skills, pushing himself to master increasingly larger and more challenging forms. His passion for ceramics, cultivated throughout high school and college, is evident in his work. Alek’s fresh design perspective continually expands our artistic boundaries. Outside the studio, Alek shares his expertise by teaching wheel throwing classes, further deepening his understanding of the craft and inspiring new generations of potters.
Alex Curtis
Alex Curtis, who joined Ephraim Pottery in 2019, has become an integral part of our creative process. With a BFA in Metals and Jewelry from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Alex brings a unique perspective to ceramic artistry. Her exceptional eye for color and innovative approach to glaze combinations have invigorated our collections with fresh, contemporary palettes. Alex’s background in curating art shows enhances her ability to create timely yet timeless color stories. When not in the studio, she explores mixed media, sewing, and painting, further informing her innovative approach to ceramics.
Matthew Drees
Matthew Drees, who joined us in October 2019, holds a BFA in Art and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. While his personal work outside Ephraim is characterized by a gestural style, at our studio Matthew has dedicated himself to mastering the Arts and Crafts aesthetic. He has become instrumental in expanding our Rhythm line, creating exacting, tightly designed pots that beautifully reflect the Arts and Crafts style. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and constant refinement, Matthew’s work embodies the precision and elegance central to Ephraim’s artistic vision. His ability to adapt his artistic approach demonstrates both his versatility and his commitment to our studio’s aesthetic principles.
Melinda Maupin
Melinda joined Ephraim Pottery in June 2022. She comes to us with a BFA in Graphic Design and Interactive Media from University of Wisconsin-Stout. Her artistic passions include pottery, oil painting, calligraphy, and hand lettering.
Tanner Howe
The newest addition to our team, Tanner Howe joined Ephraim in 2023, bringing with him a wealth of diverse experiences. His journey with ceramics began in high school and was enriched by his travels through Alaska, Utah, and New Zealand. As a production potter since 2020, Tanner’s global perspective and passion for the craft shine through in his work. When not at the potter’s wheel, you might find him strumming his guitar.
Christine Hill
After working in the studio office, Christine joined Ephraim’s glazing department in 2023 to specialize in our popular Ephraim Elemental line of functional Tableware. She enjoys this creative outlet.
