Clay Bodies

Born and raised in Oakland, Gina is excited to be creating a community centered around clay in her hometown. She fell in love with pottery in 2016 at San Francisco State University, where she received her BA in Studio Art. She has since dove into the world of wild foraged clay forming connection to place and time. Gina strives to pass along this passion, as well as her commitment to seeking out sustainable practices.

Originally from Germany, Robert is the inspiration behind our German spelled name, Kollektiv. Robert loves getting his hands in clay and has loved learning about all things pottery in his free time. Currently working as a Landscape Designer, he has enjoyed designing our studio and watching it come to life. A man of many trades, he's guaranteed and determined to fix almost anything!

Kelsey is a multidisciplinary artist born in Newport Beach, CA. Kels lives and works in Oakland making ceramics, paintings, and neon lights. Kelsey’s work often explores themes of heaven/hell and the meaning of life. Kelsey’s clay journey began in 2019, and Kels quickly fell in love with creating functional art that occupies the space between fine art and everyday objects. As a teacher, Kelsey is encouraging and positive and loves seeing students grow their skills over time.

Sophia Alexandra is an interdisciplinary artist currently working and living in the Bay Area. While taking her first ceramics class at Pasadena City College, she quickly fell in love with the medium and went on to pursue her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley. The wheel thrown ceramic forms she makes are guided by simplicity and the intimacy of ritual which can be present in the person-object relation. The hand built ceramic projects are an opaque expression of emotion. As she continues to explore the inexhaustible possibilities of clay, she hopes to encourage others to explore in a state of play, through the sharing of knowledge and skills.

Tovah Cook brings over 9 years of pottery experience to the table. Her journey in ceramics began as a form of art therapy and a new creative outlet. Her background in architecture and graphic design, combined with the influence of her community and culture, has shaped her artistic roots. She takes pleasure in exploring ancient pottery methods, such as firing techniques, clay fiber weavings, and the chemical reactions of glazing. Her love for pottery is evident when she travels, participating in international ceramics classes to learn about different cultural approaches and techniques to pottery. As a clay instructor, she is excited to share her passion for ceramics, build community, and create fun and engaging learning experiences at Kollektiv. When not working with clay, she can be found reading a good book, oil painting, roller skating, or participating in social impact initiatives in her community.

Elise has been practicing pottery since 2016, ultimately pursuing an Art Education degree with a focus in ceramics at Cal Poly Humboldt. They love exploring alternative firing techniques, which they believe lets the raw, organic beauty of ceramics shine. They enjoy crafting vases and functional ware, though they remain inspired by the innovative creations of their sculptural and handbuilt peers and students. Elise views clay as a tool for fostering unity and creativity, and through clay they aim to create spaces where individuals can connect, collaborate and be curious together. As an instructor they are dedicated to sharing their enthusiasm and expertise, inviting everyone to explore and refine their craft.

Ryan is originally from Maryland but has lived in the Bay Area since 2012. He holds a B.F.A. in Ceramics and Printmaking from Frostburg State University and has worked in ceramics since 2007, both in production pottery and education. He is always excited to share knowledge and talk about even the most obscure ceramics techniques! When it comes to teaching, Ryan emphasizes practice and patience while trying out new skills and ideas. 

Lea is a passionate potter who has worked with clay for 15+ years. She is most comfortable on the wheel, but has ventured into other areas like colored clay, sculpture work, and lately slip casting. She very much likes to make whatever the creative winds might blow toward her. Lea is very much a “fixer” potter, someone who will always try to help mend or fix a piece when things don’t go according to plan. Her goal is to allow others to discover the love of clay.

Leslie is a Mexican-American artist based in the San Francisco bay area. She takes inspiration from her heritage and the immigrant roots of her family to create work that involves explorations of the self. As a First-Generation Chicana, Leslie takes inspiration from both the joys and the struggles of her identity and reflects it in her work. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University East Bay.