Artist-in-Residence Spotlight: Evelyn Mtika

Second year Artist-in-Residence Evelyn Mtika shares about her growth, teaching experiences, and thoughts on what’s next for her.

For over 25 years, Clay Art Center has provided a supportive ceramic community for artists in residence. Our residency program, which commences each year in September, is uniquely designed to give emerging artists time and space to develop their voices. Residents gain invaluable experience teaching classes, taking part in the artistic community, cultivating their own studio practice, and exhibiting their work. We caught up with resident artist Evelyn Mtika about her second year and plans for the future.

In reflecting on her own artistic practice, Mtika shared that, “After my second year, I would say I’m at the peak of my technical ability - I’ve done a lot since Chasing Echoes [Mtika’s 2024 Artist-in-Residence exhibition]. I’m working on honing my craft and storytelling in a way that amplifies both my personal style and the story that I’m trying to tell. I’m so happy to say that I’m getting it! I’m able to talk about more personal things through my work.” Two of her pieces from Chasing Echoes, Mtika’s portrait plates of Selma Burke and Thomas Commeraw’s Pottery were featured in the exhibition Clay Conversations: Ceramics from the Gilded to the Digital Age at the Hudson River Museum, which showcased narratively driven and functional ceramic forms.

According to Mtika, teaching has been a highlight of the residency that has helped her achieve high technical proficiency. “I’ve really enjoyed the teaching. It’s helped me to brush up on techniques, and it’s so fulfilling to work with community members.” That teaching work has included her project with the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester: “I’m most proud of the work I’ve done with the Don Bosco class to make a large flower pot for outside the Don Bosco Community Center. Working on one big project together has been really nice.”

While graduate school is Mtika’s eventual aim, she shared that it’s likely not her next step; “The state of the world and the economy makes graduate school inaccessible at the moment, but doing research is a long-term goal. Right now my big goal is finding a full-time job that will provide healthcare. Between school and residencies, I haven’t really been home to Philadelphia in years. I’m hoping to go back home to Philly, work in the art field, and make work while getting paid.” Despite the challenges ahead of her, Mtika ended the interview on a hopeful note: “As stressful as this all sounds, I’m not very worried. Even if it doesn’t work out, it will work out. Something will come along. I’m fortunate to have a great support system: good friends, good family, good food, good sleep, and time away from the phone keeps me sane.”