Become an Artist-in-Resident

For over 25 years, resident artists have been advancing their careers at Clay Art Center. Our Residency program, which commences each year in September, is uniquely designed for emerging artists who need time and space to develop their voices.

Residents gain invaluable experience working in a community environment, teaching classes, sharing their technical knowledge and expertise, and managing many jobs around the studio.

Clay Art Center provides a supportive ceramic community while appreciating the need for privacy and independent work.

Applications for Resident Artists for the 2025-2026 program are due on April 1, 2025 by 5pm ET.

Are you from or have ties to Westchester County, New York? Consider applying for the Westchester Community Fellowship.

Reach out to ed@clayartcenter.org with any questions.

Read more about our current Artists-in-Residence.

Benefits

  • One year program commencing each September

  • Private 10' x 10' studio space

  • Free firing

  • Payment for studio assistance $19/hour for 9 hours work weekly. (Approximately $684/month)

  • Paid teaching opportunities (Approximately 3-5 adult, youth, and community arts classes per term. Opportunities for additional one-time classes)

  • Solo exhibition in Clay Art Center gallery at the end of the program

  • Regular critiques with fellow Artist in Residence and Clay Art Center staff

  • Access to professional development opportunities

Responsibilities

  • One year commitment with the opportunity to apply for a second year at the discretion of Clay Art Center

  • Residents assist with studio maintenance (9 hours per week mixing glaze, pugging clay, and firing student work)

  • During the end of the residency, we ask that the residents work together to create approximately 200 small artworks for our annual fundraiser in October

Requirements

  • All applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents

  • BFA or MFA highly recommended

Timeline

  • Overview: Residency begins September 2, 2025 - ends August 18, 2026

  • April 1, 2025 by 5pm ET: Applications Due

  • May 2025: Notifications

  • Incoming Residents :

    • August 26, 2025: New Residents can access their space

    • September 2, 2025: Residency welcome and orientation

    • August 18, 2026: Residency ends (for single year residents only)

Submit your application to become an Artist-in-Resident

Applications due on April 1, 2025 by 5pm ET and will include the following:

  • Statement of Interest: Address what you hope to achieve in your residency at Clay Art Center. Please include your goals related to artmaking, teaching, and community engagement.

  • Artist Statement

  • Resume

  • 2 professional references with name, contact information, title, and your relationship to both

  • 10 digital images of finished work completed during the last 2 years

  • Image List with Title, material, process, date, and dimensions

Please label and format all documents as follows:

  • Written documents must be submitted as PDFs and should include your name at the top of each page

  • Images must be submitted as JPGs or PNGs

  • Format all file names as LastNameFirstNameDocument.pdf and all images as LastNameFirstNameImageNumber.jpg (i.e.: ChoyKatherineResume.pdf and ChoyKatherineImage1.jpg)

For questions, email ED@clayartcenter.org.

Selection Process

Clay Art Center strongly encourages applications from candidates from historically underrepresented communities in the ceramic arts.

All applications are reviewed by our Residency Committee. Spaces in the program are made available as current residents reach their term limit. The number of spots available is not known until the time of application review.

Living space is not provided.

Artists-in-Residents 1998 - 2025:

1998-1999   Robert Mueller
1999-2000   Chikako Morioka
2000-2001   Susan Barbehenn
2001-2002    Kelli Damron, Steve Lee
2002-2003   Tracy Shell, Kelli Damron
2003-2004    Myung Jin Choi, Tracy Shell
2004-2005    Michelle Tobia, John Chewukun
2005-2006    Heather Houston, Michelle Tinner
2006-2007    Mari Ogihara, Kyla Toomey
2007-2008    Kyla Toomey, Elina Toperman
2008-2009    Shanna Fliegel, Andrew Coombs
2009-2010    Andrew Coombs, Jon McMillan, Shanna Fliegel
2010-2011    Caitlin Applegate, Kristina Stafford
2011-2012    Jeffrey Schwarz, Cory Brown, Caitlin Applegate, Catie Newman**
2012-2013    Kelsey Duncan, Mike Stumbras, Kelly O'Sullivan**
2013-2014    Kelsey Duncan, Lindsay Scypta, Ron Geibel, Gabby Sia**
2014-2015    Matthew Smith, Ron Geibel, Kelley Donahue, Lindsey Francis**
2015-2016    Kelley Donahue, Max Seinfeld, Chris Pickett, Jose Tlaczani**
2016-2017    Logan Wall, Max Seinfeld, Natalia Arbelaez, Teddy Poneman**
2017-2018    Logan Wall, Michael Cerv, Zoey Scheler, Dana Reifer**
2018-2019 Zoey Scheler, Christine Fashion, Nikki Lau, Luke Wilde**
2019-2020 Austin Coudriet, Christine Fashion, James Webb, Nicole Peters**
2020-2021 Austin Coudriet, Maria Spiess, Breana Hendricks**
2021-2022 Able Broyles, Anny Chen, Maria Spiess, Breana Hendricks**
2022-2023 Anny Chen, Jon Green, Avery Wells, Jess Levin**
2023-2024 Evelyn Mtika, Jess Levin, Schuyler Forsythe, Steph Perez**
2024-2025 Evelyn Mtika, Carley Holzem, Christine Raposas, Steph Perez**

In 2011, we initiated the Barbara Rittenberg Fellowship and the Westchester Community Foundation Young Artist Fellowship, thanks to generous support from the Rittenberg Memorial Fund and Westchester Community Foundation.

**Westchester Community Fellow