MEGHAN SAMSON
Owner, Artist and Educator
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Meghan has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She fell in love with clay in high school art class, and has been hooked ever since. She received her BFA in Ceramics and Sculpture from the University of New Hampshire and her MFA in Sculpture from Boston University. She has been teaching clay and art to all ages since 2005 and has imagined a space like MudCity for many years; a space where clay is accessible to all ages and skill sets, where community can come together and make art without fear, judgement and with the freedom of play. To find out more about Meghan click to visit her website here.
SARAH CLAWSON
Wheel Instructor
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Sarah first found clay in high school where she quickly fell in love and proceeded to take all the available classes, and then independent studies to prolong her time in the ceramics studio. There was no doubt she was hooked on getting her hands muddy. Sarah graduated in 2014, and knowing she couldn't go without, she bought her own wheel and made a small studio space at her house. Sarah advanced her art by working at a local art studio in Portsmouth, where she fired her work and taught wheel classes to various age ranges. She also sold her mugs to various local shops in the Seacoast area. Since then her work has progressed, but the same themes remain the same- work inspired by the natural world with a concentration in mushroom foraging and pollinators. Creating functional work you can use in everyday life is a rewarding and gratifying experience, and a trade that will always be pertinent. Sarah is very excited to start her wheel teaching journey at MudCity Clay after being a member for almost 2 years!
EMILY WERNIG
Wheel Instructor
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Emily’s love for clay started in high school and intensified during her studies at the University of New Hampshire. Wernig graduated Summa Cum Laude from the UNH in May 2018 with a BFA in ceramics and drawing. Emily has had her work exhibited at the Portsmouth Music and Art Center, Bedrock Gardens, UNH Museum of Art and Sotheby’s. Post-grad, Emily taught at The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands, North Carolina as the Ceramic Teaching Resident. She worked in the Dave Drake Studio Barn, under the direction of Frank Vickery, teaching classes and assisting with general studio upkeep. She now resides in New Hampshire, making and selling her pottery, as well as teaching ceramics at UNH.
PAISLEY HANSON
Handbuilding and Kids Classes Instructor
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Paisley received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Ceramics, Photography, and Digital Arts at The University of Southern Maine. She currently sells her work in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport Maine while expanding her small business by participation in maker's markets throughout New England. Paisley has been creating all types of art her entire life but mainly focuses on ceramics. Paisley's work is influenced by nature, spirituality, and organic forms from our daily lives. She loves to intertwine her mediums by creating work that involves photography and ceramics. Whether it is physically mixing the mediums or having inspiration from photographing southern Maine and using that insight throughout her ceramic work. Paisley creates many hand-built forms including wall pieces and functional wear. Her passion for ceramics is focused on textures and under glazing techniques. Paisley has been teaching ceramic classes for an adult education program, as well as elementary, middle and high school after school programs in southern Maine for the last year and is excited to expand her experience by joining the creative community at MudCity Clay.
Jen Pratt
Former Intern, Kids Clay Instructor
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Jen has loved playing with clay since she was a child. Her curiosity to craft and create drew her to explore painting, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics as a student of Fine Arts at the University of New Hampshire. She has taught children in early education and shared her passion for the arts in after-school elementary enrichment programming. As a member of Mud City Clay since its opening in 2019, she enjoyed time as a studio intern and loves expanding her skills and knowledge within a working studio. Her clay works, hand-built and often inspired by nature, are a practice in play, discovery, and presence. She is excited to teach Kid’s Clay Class at Mud City and hopes to continue sharing her joy of clay with a growing community of students and artists alike.
KAT LEGIER
Intern
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Kat has been working with clay for more than three years. She started at UNH where she minored in fine arts and hasn’t stopped since! She enjoys creating both functional and sculptural work. When she can, she is always thrilled to participate in woodfirings with the New Hampshire Potters Guild. As an intern with MudCity, she’s excited to practice outside of an academic environment and learn from other potters in the community.
Clara Hodges
Intern
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Clara has owned a ceramic business since 2022 with their friend Leigh Cronin called Off Menu Pots. They have worked with clay off and on since middle school, but have been working very consistently for the past three years Clara primarily throws on the wheel, with an ever-growing appreciation for hand-built work. They have dreams of throwing huge multi-piece works, as well as aspirations to make tons of perfect tiny vases. They feel there is so much to make with clay and are thankful to be able to work with it so much of the day. On top of their dedication to their own learning and art, Clara has also begun to teach some clay play classes and plans to teach more in the future.
Jacqueline Lyons
Intern
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Jacqueline wears many hats! They are a Mom, artist, intern, partner, education advocate, and hospitality professional. Jacqueline has only been messing with mud for about a year now consistently, though they have explored creativity through other mediums over the years. Printmaking, photography, and mixed media have been some of their other passions. They are thrilled to be a member and intern of Mudcity, as they get to engage with other makers and learn through practice.
Nikki Santiago-Richardson
Intern
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Nikki has been working with clay since 2020 when she came to a clay play night at Mud City and hasn’t stopped since! Nikki enjoys exploring all that clay has to offer but is particularly passionate about hand-building. Nikki has started to instruct Hand building Clay play, inspiring others to fall in love with clay as she has!
Erin Gaumond
Intern
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Erin has been with MudCity Clay since Fall 2023, where they work as an intern and are taking classes.
They attended Plymouth State University from 2018-2022, where they graduated with their BFA with a focus on multimedia works and a minor in art history. During their time at PSU, they worked with clay intermittently and worked in the Ceramic and Sculpture Studios as a work-study student.
After graduating Erin began working in IT full-time and pursued their art during their free time. Since leaving school their art has shifted to mostly Cermics works, feeling most drawn to it as a medium.
Erin is excited to be a part of MudCity Clay, and thankful for how much they have already learned from the other members, staff, and teachers.