Baltimore, MD – September 1, 2015 – Baltimore Clayworks is proud to announce the 2025–26 cohort of Resident Artists, continuing the legacy of fostering innovative ceramic art. We welcome Katherine Pon-Cooper, EMBARC Fellow; Brady Fanning, Lormina Salter Fellow; and Hannah Kautto, Long-term Resident Artist and look forward to supporting all of our artists in their creative journeys.
“Residency is at the heart of Baltimore Clayworks’ mission,” says Matt Hyleck, Executive Director of Baltimore Clayworks. “We are thrilled to welcome Katherine, Brady, and Hannah to our community and to continue supporting our Long-term Resident Artists as they expand their practices. We also honor our former resident artists for the incredible creativity and passion they’ve brought to our studios and wish them continued success on their creative journeys.”
As we look ahead to an exciting year, we also celebrate the contributions of Patrick Bell, Kashima Robinson, and Shea Kister, who will be cycling out of the residency program after an impactful tenure. Baltimore Clayworks extends its deepest gratitude for their artistry, dedication, and contributions to our community.
Continuing their residencies for another term are Kristyn Rohrer and Ali Saunders, both of whom have made significant contributions to the studios and programming and will remain Long-term Resident Artists for the 2025–26 season.
Joining the resident artist community this fall are three exceptionally talented artists we look forward to hosting in our studios:
Katherine Pon-Cooper, 2025–26 EMBARC Fellow
Katherine Pon-Cooper is a ceramic artist living and working in Baltimore, MD. A 2025 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with a BFA in Ceramics, Pon-Cooper draws inspiration from her upbringing in Charlotte, North Carolina, and its rich folk pottery tradition. Working primarily in functional pottery, she uses wheel-thrown forms and atmospheric firing to explore her mixed racial identity and the impermanence of human connection.
“Clay has memory, recording each press, pinch, and pull, every touch an addition of strength and an assertion of affection… Within this archive of love and grief, I examine my own identity in the context of my family. I ground my mixed racial identity within the tradition of American folk pottery… to explore this internal intersection.” – Katherine Pon-Cooper
Brady Fanning, 2025-26 Lormina Salter Fellow
Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Brady Fanning is an MFA graduate from Indiana University Bloomington and holds a BFA in Ceramics from Purdue University Fort Wayne. With a background in teaching ceramics and 3D design, Brady pushes the boundaries of ceramic art through intricate sculptural works that merge craft, technology, and fantasy. His award-winning works have been featured in national juried exhibitions, exploring themes of power, protection, and desire through hybrid forms.
“My work explores the tension between power, protection, and desire by blending organic and synthetic forms into hybrid sculptures that defy traditional boundaries… Metallic finishes and bold underglaze patterns mimic industrial, sci-fi motifs and circuitry while fetishizing specific parts of the sculpture, much like high fashion accentuates the human body through adornment and form.” – Brady Fanning
Hannah Kautto, 2025-26 Long-term Resident Artist
Originally from Minnesota, Hannah Kautto holds an AFA from Rochester Community and Technical College and a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Montana. Having honed her skills through a summer residency at the Clay Studio of Missoula and an Early Career Residency at Northern Clay Center, Hannah’s practice focuses on human connection and identity, incorporating language and the complexities of communication into her ceramic work.
“My work is rooted in exploring human connection and identity… Humans have complex communication systems interwoven by body language and written language. My work is a starting point for dialogue and reflection on how we interact with the world around us.” – Hannah Kautto
The 2025–26 Resident Artists will join Baltimore Clayworks September 1, 2025, bringing fresh perspectives, diverse practices, and vibrant energy to the studios and community programming.
About Baltimore Clayworks (BCW)
Founded in 1980 by nine visionary artists, Baltimore Clayworks has been recognized for its commitment to ceramics and community. Our mission is to develop, sustain, and promote an artist-centered environment that offers exceptional education, residencies, and collaborative opportunities in the ceramic arts. We provide classes and workshops for adults and children, host short- and long-term residencies for emerging and established artists, present dynamic rotating exhibitions, and feature local and internationally recognized ceramicists in our retail shop. Through the universal language of clay, Baltimore Clayworks also engages and empowers under-resourced communities throughout Baltimore and beyond.
Learn more at: www.baltimoreclayworks.org