Mara Chen — Founder
A vessel maker focused on proportion, surface, and the quiet drama of useful objects.
The atelier
A studio for attention, material, and generous practice.
Our story
Fineshore Clay Atelier began as a weekend table shared by two sculptors who wanted a less hurried way to teach. The studio grew through open critique nights, carefully planned workshops, and makers who returned to continue a conversation with clay.
Today we welcome adults at different stages, from a first pinch pot to a focused body of work. We teach technique as a form of access: the more clearly you understand the material, the more freely you can speak through it.
Our mission
To make serious clay education approachable, observant, and rooted in the pleasure of making.
The people in the room
Jon Bell — Form Tutor
A sculptor who helps students translate gesture and balance into stable clay structures.
Nia Alvarez — Studio Lead
Keeps the studio welcoming, organized, and ready for ambitious experiments.