about black hound clay west
Black Hound Clay Studio West was founded in 2016 as an inclusive community space for ceramic artists. We are located in the heart of West Philadelphia right off Baltimore Avenue. Offering affordable studio workspace, classes and events throughout the year, BHCS aims to be the locus of the Philadelphia ceramics community west of the Schuylkill River.
For more information on our sister studio in South Philly, please visit Black Hound Clay Studio South.
Black Hound Clay Studio is committed to advancing anti-racism within the ceramics field. We are aware of the dynamics of a white-run arts organization existing in a majority Black neighborhood, as well as the fact that the ceramics field is a white dominated field where minorities are vastly underrepresented. Part of the mission of BHCS is working to shift the structural barriers that prevent minorities from engaging in ceramics. We offer sliding scale programming, installment payment plans and BHCS members may utilize the Member Support Fund to defray the costs of membership.
Visit us
Black Hound Clay Studio West
715 South 50th Street
Philadelphia PA 19143
(half block south of 50th & Baltimore and a half block from the 34 Trolley)
Open to the Public Hours
Thursday - Sunday
12-5 pm
Open to Members 24/7
Phone
(215) 558 - 0243
West@Blackhoundclay.com
Black Hound Clay Studio Staff
Bethany Rusen
STUDIO DIRECTOR
Bethany@Blackhoundclay.com
Bethany (she/they) graduated with a BFA from Tyler School of Art in 2003 and earned her MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 2010. She has completed residencies at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia and the University of Delaware. Now primarily a production potter, her functional ceramics line Stanley Chester & Albert can be found in shops in Philadelphia and around the country. She lives in West Philly with partner Douglas, dogs Penny and Moola and cats Smokey and Harold. Her hair is usually pink.
Lisa Belsky
Assistant studio director
Lisa@Blackhoundclay.com
Lisa (she/her) graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2004 with a BFA in Ceramics. She also earned an MFA in Ceramics in 2008 from Ohio State University. She taught studio art classes at universities and community art centers for 12 years, and now she’s one of the teachers here at Black Hound.
Lisa is a ceramic and mixed media artist who also loves to knit and crochet. She has exhibited artwork in juried and invitational exhibitions around the country and loves to participate in craft shows when she can. She currently lives in West Mt. Airy with her spouse and 2 dogs.
Lauren DELK
STUDIO TECHNICIAN
Lauren@blackhoundclay.com
Lauren Delk (she/her) is an artist currently living and working in Philadelphia, PA. She received her B.F.A in studio art in 2019.
Lauren works in a variety of mediums including ceramics and mixed media. Her work draws from a love of simplicity and minimalism as well as expressive line work and detail.
In her free time Lauren enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends!
Claire engelhardt
OPEN STUDIO MONITOR
Claire@blackhoundclay.com
Claire Engelhardt (she/her) has worked in ceramics on and off for almost ten years, with her earlier art background being in illustration and painting. The focus of her work is in creating creatures both as utilitarian objects intended for daily use, as well as sculptural critters to keep you company. In the past three years wood firing has become central to her ceramic practice.
She has worked as an art educator in various capacities for both children and adults at the Arts League, as well as at Black Hound Clay Studio.
Frances Iadarola
OPEN STUDIO MONITOR + ASSISTANT STUDIO TECHNICIAN
Frances@blackhoundclay.com
Frances Iadarola (she/her) is a potter based in West Philly who makes small batch, functional ceramics for everyday use. She has been practicing ceramics for over three years and sells her work in local stores and markets in Philly. When she’s not at Black Hound, she works as a baker in South Philly making croissants and pastries.
In addition to being the Open Studio monitor on the weekends, Frances occasionally teaches One Day Workshops throughout the year. To keep up with Frances and see photos of her latest work you can check out her instagram @francesiadarola.
Cassie Jones
Administrative coordinator Cassie@blackhoundclay.com
Cassie Jones (she/her) is a maker in every definition of the word: she makes stuff! That stuff includes ceramics (yay!) as well as leather work, embroidery, natural dyeing, printing, weaving, book arts, spinning, pysanky, and paper making just to name a handful. At Black Hound you’ll find her instructing workshops on a variety of creative skill sets, organizing private events and throwing posi vibes wherever she can!
Nat Needham
MAINTENANCE & WORKSHOP COORDINATOR Nat@Blackhoundclay.com
Nat Needham (they/he) is a potter who lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Nat has been throwing on the wheel for a decade, since they were first introduced to clay at Towson University in 2012. Nat loves throwing functional pottery with all types of clay bodies but has a special appreciation for using porcelain. In their free time, Nat likes lifting weights, drinking coffee, and hanging with their cat, Sheldon.