residency program
Our residency program is designed to allow emerging and established artists the space to develop work in a supportive and creative environment, foster innovative teaching concepts, provide support for new and exciting workshop ideas, and give residents the ability to “test drive” different clay career possibilities. The residency program at Queen City Clay is unique in that it emphasizes the development of the individual as part of a larger community in both the studio and in the greater tri-state area. Our residents benefit from the connections we have made over many years with local universities other arts organizations, non-profits, and countless businesses.
At QCC, your time can feel like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book. With a fun and lively staff, you decide the direction that you need to take, and we are right behind you to support and mentor you in either one specific area or across every facet (pottery humor) of the business.
Qualified Resident Artists are accepted at both 1 year residencies and short term residencies (min. of 1 month, max. of 3 months)
***Currently accepting applications for Residency & Atmospheric Residency Positions
You get a little bit of everything in the clay world at Queen City Clay:
-
teaching skills
-
artistic growth
-
professional development through our gallery
-
learning the business of clay through our retail shop and relationship with industry leaders
-
constructing new tools and techniques
-
interaction with all ages and professions
-
wood shop access
The Space
Our facility is a 50,000 square foot teaching studio, supply house, exhibition gallery, sales gallery, and workshop space. We are equipped with:
-
50 Brent wheels
-
multiple hand-building stations
-
2 extruders
-
3 slab rollers
-
1 massive clay mixer, capable of mixing 300lbs
-
Soldner mixer
-
3 pugmills
-
22 house cone 10 glazes
-
10 house cone 6 glazes
-
7 Skutt 1227 electric kilns
-
1 36 cubic foot wood kiln
-
1 20 cubic foot outdoor soda kiln
-
2 outdoor raku kilns
-
A wood fired pizza oven
-
Space for pit firing
-
Space for kiln building is also available.
qualifications
- You must be a ceramic artist, working either functionally or sculpturally. The work may utilize other materials, but must be primarily ceramic.
- knowledgeable of the routine workings of a clay studio, ie. loading and firing kilns, clay and glaze mixing, and regular studio upkeep.
- able to work independently while taking advantage of the interactive ceramics community and available opportunities at QCC
- energetic, responsible, and willing to work efficiently during the scheduled weekly work hours in the studio outside of your personal work time
- must not be enrolled either full or part-time in school
- must be at a level of accomplishment, commitment, and growth in one’s artistic endeavors
- committed to fulfill the entire timeline of your residency obligation
responsibilites
- continuous pursuit of creative work (min 20hrs/wk)
- on average, 8hrs/wk of studio teaching/technical support, ie. studio upkeep, kiln loading and firing, maintenance of kilns and kiln shelves, record keeping, mixing glazes, gallery installation, mixing clay, workshop assistant, teaching assistant, and so forth
- active participation in the studio community
- requirement of teaching one class per session after the 2 month training period at the onset of your residency
- donation of one piece of your body of work to the QCC collection
- Year long residencies have a 30 day trial period and review. After 6 months an evaluation meeting will be completed to continue with the remainder of the residency.
benefits
- 24 hour access to the studio and facilities
- private studio space equipped with wood shelving, table, plaster wedging board, and a wheel if needed
- exhibition and sale space in the Gallery Shop
- paid additional teaching opportunities beyond the one required class per session
- immersion in a large creative community
- opportunity to attend all QCC workshops at no charge
- 20 percent discount on purchases
- clay at cost
- $50 monthly stipend
- access to a fully stocked glaze kitchen
- Nearby attractions include artists’ studios, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center, Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati Museum Center, and a large selection of local galleries and historic sites.
to apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Next round of applications due April 30th
All applications should include:
- current resume
- artist statement
- artist bio
- A statement regarding what you wish to gain from this residency position; which area you would like to concentrate in- studio, education, gallery, or retail- and why; what you will bring to this resident position, what your short term plans as an artist are.
- three references with contact information
- 10-15 digital images with a corresponding image list. Digital images should be in JPEG format, 72dpi, with each file labeled with last name, first inital, and numbers indicating your preferred viewing order (ex: doej1.jpg)
- Documents should be in pdf or docx format. Put your name on the top of every document. Files should be labeled with last name, first initial, _type of document (ex: doej_resume.pdf). All documents should be put into a FOLDER titled with your FULL NAME. Upload your folder at the link below.
meet our
residents
HOLLY BARRETT
Holly Barrett is a second year resident at Queen City Clay. She completed a BFA with concentrations in Ceramics and Painting & Drawing at Ohio University in 2021, and since then has participated in the ASPN Residency at Red Lodge Clay Center and completed a Post-Bacc Residency at the Morean Center for Clay (via Western Michigan University). She also spent a summer as staff at the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts before joining Queen City Clay as a new Artist in Residence.
In Barrett’s own practice, wheel-thrown and ornamentally altered surfaces act as a canvas for her illustrations. Her body of work emphasizes themes of memory & story-telling, community, and perceived value.
EMERY COTTEN
@themugdad
Emery Cotten is a nonbinary ceramic artist from Denver, Colorado. Prior to their residency at Queen City Clay they had done a long term internship at the Archie Bray Foundation and a residency at the Brockway Center for Arts and Technology. Cotten works on the wheel meticulously crafting utilitarian wares. Their work is a product of neurosis and a need to make objects of comfort. This culminates in pots that are rigid and have a machined quality while also having a soft and delicate nature.
ERIKA NJ ALLEN
@erika.nj.allen.studio
Erika Nj Allen is an artist born in Guatemala, with roots that span across various places. Her artistic journey led her to attain a BFA in photography from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and an MFA in Ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Artist Statement
In May 2019, during her senior year of her BFA, she underwent a hysterectomy. The aftermath of this clinical yet deeply personal medical procedure prompted a profound shift in her relationship with her body and sustenance, as well as a different outlook on life and art. As she reimagined her diet to aid her recovery, she found a newfound intentionality in consuming fruits and vegetables. These produce items became almost meditative, guiding her on a path to regain strength and vitality through her work with clay. The resulting artworks meticulously replicate the produce she consumed, with each piece bearing imprints of actual fruits. This blurs the line between authenticity and artifice, as ceramics and real fruit coexist, symbolizing her body and medical implants — one undergoing decay while the other remains unchanging.
A pivotal moment emerged when an ordinary banana led to an unexpected glazing technique, reshaping her porcelain and stoneware creations. This serendipitous discovery ignited a passion for experimenting with a variety of produce.
Beyond its initial aesthetic purpose, Erika’s banana artwork has evolved to convey a political standpoint. It now embodies resilience in the face of adversity, representing how marginalized communities persist in the presence of systemic barriers.
As an artist and survivor, Erika extends a welcoming hand to anyone who wishes to share their story. Art serves as the channel through which she articulates a narrative of resilience and adaptation. Erika’s journey becomes an invitation to partake in a dialogue, to collectively engage in the human experience, and to witness the beauty that emerges when we transform hardship into art.
Previous Resident
Artists
