Alex Trajkovski
Alex Trajkovski is an artist and designer who works with graphite and oil paint in the Classical European tradition. In his work and teaching, he focuses on casts and portraiture using academic realism, emphasizing values and form. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History from Eastern Michigan University. He is the Manager of Graphic Design & Production for the Detroit Pistons. Alex is also the founder of Grand Circus Magazine, a Detroit-based arts and culture publication.
Amanda Bialk
Amanda Bialk is a ceramic artist from Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating with her BFA from the University of Cincinnati in 2015, she worked in a variety of gallery positions before shifting her focus to working as a production ceramic artist for almost a decade. She spent time working at Rookwood Pottery and Motawi Tileworks, in addition to selling her own work in local stores, markets and restaurants. She is currently the Exhibition Manager at the A2AC in addition to instructing ceramic courses and workshops. Her ceramic practice, Clio Ceramics, draws inspiration from her love of art history, mythology, and folklore. In her spare time she likes to spend time in nature, read weird books, and goof around with her husband and two cats, Smokey Joe and Yoga Pants.
Amanda May Moore
Amanda May is a local artist, born and raised in Ypsilanti. She finds great value in living in such a vibrant community of many artists.
She graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 2006, studied Spanish Literature and Language at Michigan State, and furthered her education later at Eastern Michigan University for a teacher’s certificate in Spanish and TESOL/ESL.
It was not until the fall of 2019 that she was re-introduced to the art of printmaking when attending letterpress lab sessions at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library. It became a refuge for her through the stress of beginning her teaching career and later through the pandemic. After three arduous years of teaching in the midst of a pandemic and suffering the recent loss of her father to the fight against cancer, she has decided it best to take a break from teaching. With a new journey ahead of her, she plans to continue to create and offer art workshops in her community.
Amelia Hissong
Amelia studied Art Education at Kendall College of Art and Design and received her BA with a concentration in Painting from Eastern Michigan University. Amelia first discovered her passion for teaching art within the fun and inspiring learning environment of A2AC Art Camps in 2016. She has taught art to Elementary through Middle School students primarily in Ypsilanti since 2017.
Blythe Miles
Blythe Miles is an artist and educator located in Livonia, Michigan. She received a BFA in sculpture from Abilene Christian University, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Teaching in Visual Arts Education from Wayne State University. For over a decade Blythe has been working as an art instructor in the nonprofit sphere, teaching a variety of art subjects to students of all ages. Throughout her career she has grown to love art education, and consistently finds inspiration from interacting and collaborating with students. Her goals as a teacher are to help students understand how to find motivation, to support them in developing critical thinking skills, and to instill confidence in them as creators. She has been instructing at the A2AC since 2016, and loves trying out new media and curriculum in her classes.
Burcu Senyapili Ozcan
Dr. Burcu Senyapili Ozcan, is an architect and professor of architecture. She has been the Chair of Department of Architecture at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey before relocating to Ann Arbor at the end of Summer 2024. She has years of experience teaching Art and Culture, Basic Design and Architectural Design courses. In Michigan, she is working with younger kids in an after school program, teaching them how to draw, and she teaches workshops and courses at A2AC.
Cashmere Morley
Cashmere is an award-winning graphic designer and writer, who has dedicated her creative career to making art accessible to all. She opened her design agency in Ann Arbor in 2016, and since then, she has done work for some of the most prestigious museum and exhibition spaces not only locally, but across the country. A graduate from Eastern Michigan University, Cashmere double-majored in graphic design and journalism, and still enjoys freelance writing for local newspapers today. When she’s not immersed in design or writing, you’ll likely find her strumming her guitar, playing piano, or brewing a comforting pot of tea.
Charles Couasnon
Charles is a retired educator from Saline area schools, with over 33 years of experience teaching art across the country, working with students ranging from kindergarten through college. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture and an Art Education certification from Ohio University, returning after extensive travel to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture.
Charles’ early work focused on large-scale sculptural installations, drawing inspiration from renowned artists such as Robert Irwin and Michael Singer. Throughout his career, he has been captivated by the unique expressions and problem-solving skills exhibited by artists of all ages. He returned to the studio to delve into ceramics, initially joining A2AC to expand his knowledge and earn continuing education credits for recertification. He now enjoys serving as a studio monitor and instructor, guiding both adults and young people in their exploration of clay.
Chloe Robberts
Chloe is an interdisciplinary artist that received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design. Along with her education in studio art, she also had a focus in History of Art and Museum Studies which fueled her love for all things ancient. This interest was brought into her practice through a thesis on underrepresented characters of redemptive history. Her body of work is primarily created through abstraction, portraiture, and creative writing.
Chloe first discovered her passion for art education through her time as the A2AC Assistant Camp Director in 2023 and 2024. When she is not teaching classes, Chloe works with the A2AC as the Education Programs Manager.
Chris Kamykowski
Chris began his art and design journey in his senior year at Sturgis High School in Sturgis, MI. After originally pursuing architecture he found his passion for sculpture and ceramics. In 2014, he graduated with a BFA in 3D Studies from Youngstown State University, focusing on mold making and slip casting.
He has spent several years working in production ceramics settings, and is now the Studio Technician at Albion College and co-owner of Pinfeather Art Studio.
Chris incorporates architectural influences, and the facets of low-resolution digital models into his work. Additionally, Chris plays with the contrast of both color and texture, highlighting his forms with the melt of the glaze.
Daria White Paik
World renowned potter Daria White Paik teaches the next generation of ceramics artists at the Ann Arbor Art Center!
Daria began working as a Studio Assistant at the Ann Arbor Art Center in 1999 and, has instructed a vareity of youth, teen, and adult classes and workshops since 2006.
Daria grew up in Seoul, South Korea, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1983. In 1988 she moved to the US, where she took foundational courses in ceramics at the University of Alabama in the late 1990’s. After completing a two-year internship, Daria was elected to a full membership at the Ann Arbor Potter’s Guild and has taught there occasionally over the last 18 years. She was a student advisor and manager from 2008 – 2016 at Washtenaw Community College. For the past 10 years, she has also taught many workshops at Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in addition to leading various ceramics, ceramic drum-making, or brush-making workshops at Washtenaw Community College, Saline Art Center, Lansing Potters Guild, Jackson Potters Guild, Pewabic Pottery, and the University of Michigan Museum of Art, in addition to giving both a throwing demo and speech at the Ann Arbor Women Speakers Series.
As an instructor at the Art Center, you will find Daria instructing wheel throwing and handbuilding classes for beginner thru advanced students, fancy face mug workshops for families, and much more!
Daria shares that “Clay comes from the earth; art comes from the soul. Clay is like a blank state of mind waiting for me to make it into whatever I feel at the moment. When I touch clay, I forget time. My passion for art stems from this basic premise: something from nothing, and the hope that the only pre-requisite for art is a spark of creativity.”
Dave Carr
Dave is an art director, visual development artist, and 3D generalist working in video games and animation. Dave is inspired by the feeling of being in the forest, surrounded by dappled light and a cool breeze. His work is known for its lighting, and a certain sense of whimsy. Dave is the creative director for Pictobox Studio, and has worked for Reddit Inc, Facebook Messenger Kids, Pixel Diamond Studios, Jam City, and Baobab Studios.
Deanne Neiburger
Deanne Neiburger is an artist living and working in Ann Arbor. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, with a major in figurative sculpture. Deanne has been teaching both children and adults at the Ann Arbor Art Center since 2014, and joined the Art Center staff as the ceramic studio tech in 2018. When not creating artwork, you can find her playing hockey, plucking the banjo, or playing the flute in the Ann Arbor Concert Band.
Doug Bowman
Doug is a self-taught jeweler who works with sterling silver, fine silver, copper, brass, and bronze. He aims to create fun and interesting pieces, often leaving no surface blank when possible. Doug uses faceted stones and cabochons in various settings to add character and style to his work.
With the knowledge and skills gained over the years working in metals, Doug believes he possess the expertise necessary to train others. He prioritizes teaching shop safety and ensuring a safe work environment at all times. Doug advocates for a hands-on approach to teaching, believing that the more time a student spends actively working with their materials, the better their understanding will be—while also fostering problem-solving skills.
Erika Smith
Erika is a self-taught silversmith and lapidary artist out of Tipton, MI. It wasn’t until she had moved out to the country where she really started to tap into her creative side. The peace and tranquility of rural life really inspired her slow down and to create pieces that reflect that calming energy. A rockhound since she was little, she finds great joy working with beautiful stones that Mother Nature has to offer. The stones she selects and cuts are not mere embellishments but are carefully chosen for their unique characteristics and the stories they hold from the Earth. Her work strives to honor these natural narratives, presenting them in a form that encourages viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty often overlooked in our hurried lives. Through her craft, she hopes to encourage others to slow down and notice the little details that make our surroundings truly remarkable. When she is not at the Art Center, you will most likely find Erika on a disc golf course. She also enjoys reading, creating macrame and hanging out with her 3 pups on the trails.
Eve Bratten
Currently finishing her bachelor’s in Illustration in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies, Eve has put on multiple hats for her passions and art community. Next to freelancing and story book illustration, she works as an instructor at the Ann Arbor Art Center teaching the next generation the importance of the arts through figure and character design. Recognized by the Society of Illustrators and remaining on the Presidents List for her years at CCS she continues to work hard to showcase her skills.
Faith Nesbitt
Faith Nesbitt is a ceramic artist formally known as, The Funky Fungi. Past seasons of my ceramic journey have looked like hosting pop-up hand building workshops at local spots, hosting pop-up makers markets, teaching school aged kids pottery, teaching adults both weekly and semester long pottery classes, managing an art studio, running a kids art summer camp and I’ve even managed to celebrate the art of dance by sprinkling in a silent disco here and there. A common trend for me? bringing community together and making art assessable for all. Faith is currently the Ceramic Studio Tech at A2AC in addition to instructing ceramic courses and workshops. Faith works on the clays time. What’s Faiths job? Clay. What’s Faiths hobby? Clay. What’s Faiths favorite food? Clay.
Jon Van Eck
Jon Van Eck is an Ann Arbor-based artist who began his life-long love affair with ceramics in 1982. He became a member of the Ann Arbor Potters Guild in 1987, but left in 1990 to raise 5 kids, work, and go to school. He received a BFA in Ceramics from Eastern Michigan University and taught the “Ceramics for Non-Majors” course for two semesters as a graduate teaching assistant. Jon set up a home studio and created Van Eck Pottery & Tile Works in 2005. In 2015 & 2016, he taught workshops at the Ann Arbor Potters Guild on making extruded ceramic dies and combining extrusions with thrown objects. In June 2018, Jon began teaching at the Ann Arbor Art Center, where he continues to teach.
Julie Madden
Julie Schnell Madden is a ceramic artist who has worked with the material for over 35 years, creating both functional and non-functional clay objects. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and she has served as Visiting Artist at various institutions, often creating curriculum and teaching strategies while in residence. She received her BFA from Ohio University and her MA and MFA from Bowling Green State University. Spending most of her career teaching at various universities, she has recently relocated back to her hometown of Toledo, Ohio, where she has set up her studio.
Kaila Piepkow
Kaila is the full-time Executive Director of Doodles Academy, a local non profit that believes in bringing art education to everyone. And a part-time preschool art teacher at her daughter’s downtown school. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a background in business, she brings a unique blend of creativity and strategy to arts education—working to expand access to high-quality, process-based art experiences for kids everywhere.
She believes in the power of art to inspire, teach, and connect. Whether leading Doodles Academy, creating just for the joy of it, or learning from the imaginative minds of young artists, Kaila finds endless inspiration in the creativity of children. For her, art isn’t just a subject—it’s a way of thinking, exploring, and bringing a little more magic into the world.
Kelsey Hofe
Kelsey is an Appalachian artist and theatre performer from West Virginia. She joins A2AC after years of working in professional theatre and as an independent artist honing her skills and passion for visual arts. Over the course of her career, Kelsey has created multiple summer art camps and worked to empower communities to create accessibility and inclusion in the arts. Kelsey is overjoyed to join the Ann Arbor community and hopes to continue to cultivate an appreciation of the arts for the next generation of students. In her free time, you can find Kelsey learning a new artistic medium, enjoying new and old movies, or snuggling with her black cat Jiji.
Katy Jeffrey
Katy Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Ceramics from Eastern Michigan University. A long-time Ann Arbor resident, she now lives in Livonia to be closer to family and friends after becoming a mom. Katy has a long history with the Ann Arbor Art Center, having first taught pottery classes there during her college years—back when the Center was still located on Felch Street. She was part of the team that transitioned into the current building and especially enjoyed teaching pottery to summer camp students, calling it one of her favorite jobs.
Though she currently works in the corporate world, Katy remains an active and passionate ceramic artist. She is a Guild Member of the Village Potters Guild in Old Village Plymouth and sells her functional pottery pieces at The Town Peddler in Livonia. Outside the studio, Katy enjoys gardening in her hobby greenhouse, hiking, bird watching, and cooking. She shares her life with her 11-year-old son and two beloved rescue dogs.
Kristine Haddox
Kristine started teaching at the Ann Arbor Art Center when she and her husband moved from Texas to Michigan in 2005. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculptural Metalsmithing from Texas A & M University-Commerce and is an award-winning artist with a passion for teaching. In Texas, she taught at various colleges and universities; teaching Metalsmithing, Sculpture, Ceramics, 2-D and 3-D Design, Art Appreciation, and Humanities. Other than art and teaching, her two favorite things are getting dirty and playing with fire. This is probably why she has always been fascinated by metals and all of the metal techniques and processes.
Lainey Queen
Lainey is a mixed media artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who has always been drawn to the creative process. Their appreciation for the arts was shaped by their early exposure to art through both Ann Arbor Public Schools Visual & Performing Arts Programs, as well as the deep artistic influence of their family. Lainey’s grandmothers, one an oil painter and former art teacher, and the other a master in traditional quilting and knitting, instilled in them a love for both fine art and textile craftsmanship.
Their interest in arts education was first sparked by their experience of creating art with young people in both nannying and classroom assisting. Throughout their time at Community High School and Kalamazoo College, Lainey’s interest in learning about visual arts led to further artistic engagement with people of all ages. Now, as an arts instructor, Lainey is passionate about sharing the joy with others of exploring new techniques and pushing the boundaries of their creativity.
Levi Hubbel
Levi received their BFA at the University of Michigan’s Stamps School of Art and Design. They are currently finishing their degree in arts education with a concentration in ceramics at Eastern Michigan University. Levi is passionate about youth education, and has been working with young artists for 6 years. They joined the A2AC community as the Social Emotional Learning Specialist for A2AC’s Art Camp in 2025, and they are currently teaching youth and family classes at the center.
Liz Wylde
Liz Mitchell (she/her/hers) is a social worker and psychotherapist who has a passion for education and ceramics. She has worked with the Ann Arbor Art Center in various roles since 2014, including camp staff, ceramics studio assistant, ceramics instructor, and education consultant. Liz currently teaches youth ceramics classes and some adult workshops at the art center; her primary interests are wheel throwing and surface decoration. Liz enjoys playing roller derby, hiking, and caring for her houseplants when she’s not working as a therapist or art instructor.
Maggie Stansley
Maggie was first introduced to pottery at a young age through the vibrant arts community in Asheville, North Carolina. She continued to nurture that passion through grade school and pursued a degree in ceramics at Queens University of Charlotte. Since graduating, she has taught ceramic classes at many studios and continued her art education at the Penland School of Craft in western North Carolina. Maggie enjoys teaching all ages and making functional pots that are utilized and incorporated into daily routines.
Rachel Derocher
Rachel graduated from Albion College with a BA in Psychological Science and Environmental Studies. She joined the Art Center staff in the summer of 2019 and assists with educational programming, including teaching classes and developing new ArtBoxes. Outside the Art Center, you’ll find her exploring new hiking trails, taking on new crafts, and befriending all sorts of dogs.
Regina James
Regina is a local artist that is currently active within the community at markets and events, with her focus on pottery and textured paintings. She began her formal art studies when dual enrolling in a darkroom photography class at Siena Heights University in high school. After graduating in 2004, she continued studying photography at Washtenaw Community College where her passion for makeup artistry began. After starting work with MAC Cosmetics as a part-time artist, this journey ultimately lead Regina to becoming a Regional Trainer for the midwest, where she discovered her passion for education and service in the arts. In 2019, Regina separated from MAC and spent the next few years focusing on family until becoming a stay at home mom to twins in 2021. She went back to school online and in the evenings at Oakland Community College, beginning her studies and practice in ceramics. Shortly after, Regina started her business Soda Pop Pottery to further connect with the community with goals of work/mom life balance.
Her partnership with A2AC began in 2024 as an instructor for the youth Creativity Camp and has continued with various classes for adults and kids, including clay.
Rose Pengelly
Rose is a ceramic artist currently making and living in Hamtramck, Michigan. She has a BA in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics and sculpture. While studying she found her passion for bringing art to others through teaching and community arts. In 2023 she joined the community of Village Potters Guild in Plymouth, Michigan and just this year began teaching at A2AC. When outside of ceramic studios you can find Rose at community events, with family, or spending time with her cat, Milo.
Samantha Doerge
Samantha Doerge is an interdisciplinary artist and Creative Technologist who graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with a major in Visual and Critical Studies and a minor in Sculpture in 2013. She specializes in utilizing extended reality software and hardware (such as virtual reality and augmented reality) in creative ways to tell stories and produce immersive experiences for events such as the Tribeca Festival’s Immersive and Games program, as well as the Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier program. Following in the steps of her mother, who was an art instructor at their alma mater SAIC, she teaches Figure Drawing, Digital Illustration and Animation in her free time. Her love of art and art education stems from her adoration for stories and the many creative ways they can be shared, as well as her inherent belief that all people are creative, some of them just don’t know it yet.
Sajeev Visweswaran
Sajeev Visweswaran is a visual artist/printmaker based in Ann Arbor, USA. While he works in many media and styles, drawing always comes at the center of his work. He has focused on minimalist lines and measures etchings throughout his repertoire. Sajeev’s works draw on the tension between the mundane activities of everyday life and his political sensibilities, between his young life in village India and the world of fine art. He is fascinated by the intersection of the personal and the political, presence and absence, the domestic and the public. Sajeev received his training from the College of Art, New Delhi, where he received his BFA before completing his MVA at M.S. University, Baroda. His first solo show was held at 1 Shanthi Road, Bangalore, in 2014, and his works have been selected for several exhibitions and group shows across India, as well as in Korea, Romania, and France. He has attended residencies at 1 Shanthi Road, Bangalore, in 2014 and the ‘Residence Price’ at the 13th Biennale Internationale de Gravure de Sarcelles, France, in 2008. His work was also selected for The Fifth Graphic Art Biennial of Szeklerland în Sfântu Gheorghe, Romania, in 2018. Recently he curated a four-person exhibition, ‘Division, Commonality, Encounter’ at Scarab Club, which was well received in the Detroit art community.
Susan Mankowski
I am a woman searching for a deeper connection with others, nature, and myself. Art/teaching is a way I have found to work toward this goal. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, but I believe I came to life when I discovered Ann Arbor. The minute I first visited Ann Arbor, I felt more alive. This made for an easy decision to attend the University of Michigan School of Art. I spent a couple of years studying Interior Design but found myself each summer working with kids and teaching art. I decided to switch gears slightly and get my BFA and a teaching certificate. I believe teaching was the work I was meant to do. Soon after graduating, I got a job with the Brighton Area Schools. I began my career teaching art at the elementary level but eventually spent a few years at the middle school before moving on to high school. I spent 22 of my 32-year career teaching at the high school level. I taught a variety of media, but mostly ceramics. This was quite a challenge since my first loves were drawing and watercolor, but I jumped in, taking workshops and learning from a colleague. Now I can’t decide which I enjoy more, watercolor or ceramics. I’ve even combined them in my work on occasion. Before retiring, I had a studio built onto my home with space and equipment to do both. Since retiring from public schools, I have been teaching and creating in my studio and teaching at the A2AC. You can usually find me outside when I’m not in my studio. I enjoy putting around my yard, and long walks through my neighborhood or in one of the Ann Arbor parks. I enjoy spending time with my 2 young adult children or visiting my sister “up north,” where we walk, bike and kayak.
Tricia Hampo
Tricia Hampo is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Art and Design and Eastern Michigan University with a teaching certificate in Art Education. Tricia made glass beads and sold them to jewelry designers around the country for 15 years. After moving into a new home with an ideal studio space, she began painting again in acrylics, oils, and pastels and creating mixed media art. Thanks to the internet, Tricia has sold over 750 prints of her artwork and completed many commissions from clients worldwide. She loves to create and explore new ideas, mediums, and inspirations. She also loves to share her passion for the arts and her skills and experiences with anyone who desires to experience the endless possibilities and joys of creative expression.
Tristan Surre
Tristan is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Aside from studying Illustration at College for Creative Studies and earning an Associate of Fine Arts from Washtenaw Community College, he is self-taught. He has a passion for creating freehand ink illustrations and aims to elicit feelings of nostalgia, sentimentality and curiosity through his work. Tristan believes in teaching to be creative; challenging beliefs and embodying the habits that artists practice in order to generate complex ideas and execute them easily. “I want to connect with the world through my art in a way that spawns curiosity and makes you uncomfortable. We should always question everything.” He had work displayed in the CCS Detroit Student Exhibition in 2022 and currently has pieces in the shop at the A2AC.