Our Story

Clay Sherman, Our resident art expert and overseer of all the creativity happening each day in the studios. Clay takes his job very seriously and loves supporting students through their creative endeavors with frequent snuggles, comedic brain breaks, and puppy kisses. When Clay is not in studio, he enjoys chasing a ball, taking long upside down naps, and keeping his little sisters safe - their constant shadow and protector.

Jon Sherman is the co-founder of 24hr Pottery, a membership-based pottery studio built around flexible, 24-hour access. He and his wife, Chelsea, started the studio after welcoming their twin daughters — a season that reshaped how they thought about time, creativity, and community. They wanted to create a space that worked for real life, removing the barriers of rigid class schedules and limited studio access so more people could make art on their own terms. What began as a single studio has grown into a broader model that supports a vibrant community of makers. In addition to operating locations, 24hr Pottery shares its systems and technology with independent studio owners who want to build sustainable, member-centered spaces of their own. Jon is motivated by the idea that creative businesses can be both practical and meaningful — places where people gather, learn, and connect through clay.

Chelsea Sherman is the co-founder of 24hr Pottery and a lifelong ceramic artist. She discovered pottery in high school and quickly knew it would always be part of her life — not just as a personal practice, but as something to share with others. She went on to study Ceramics and Education at the University of Montana, where she developed a strong belief that creativity, learning, and community are deeply connected. Today, Chelsea works closely with the teaching team and helps shape the studio experience from the ground up. From curriculum development to day-to-day operations, she focuses on creating an environment that feels welcoming, supportive, and inspiring for artists at every stage. Her heart remains in both the clay and the classroom — helping others find confidence, connection, and joy through making.

Ann Venezia is an interdisciplinary artist who dabbles in sculpture, painting, and ceramics. My work explores ideas about belonging, human engagement, and our surroundings by considering our relationship with time. I earned my BFA in sculpture from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Shortly after graduating I moved to Portland, Maine and worked as a Studio Technician at Portland Pottery. After three years of being in Maine I decided to move back home to Phoenix, Arizona to be with my family. ‍

Claire Vining is a ceramic artist with over 30 years of experience working in clay. Her lifelong passion for ceramics has been shaped by both dedicated studio practice and two decades as a high school ceramics teacher, where she has inspired and mentored countless young artists. Through teaching, she has cultivated a deep appreciation for both the technical and expressive possibilities of the medium. Her work reflects a balance of craftsmanship and creativity, often drawing on years of hands-on experience with form, surface, and firing techniques. She loves to make work that can be enjoyed and admired while being used daily. Claire’s approach to ceramics is rooted in a belief that clay is both a functional and storytelling material—one that connects people through everyday use and shared experience. In addition to her artistic and teaching career, Claire is a devoted wife to Jeff and a proud mother to two children, Julia (25) and Layton (21), who continue to inspire her both in and out of the studio. She loves to hike when she can and enjoys being part of the outdoors in many capacities including camping, boating, adventuring and travel.

Ciara is an artist with a Bachelor’s in Expressive and Therapeutic Arts, a minor in Studio Art, and a Master’s in Art Therapy. She is passionate about helping people rediscover their connection to creativity, give themselves permission to play, and let go of perfectionism. Her background has shaped the way she views creativity—not just as a skill, but as a meaningful way to reconnect with oneself and gain deeper self-understanding. She works across multiple mediums, including oil painting, digital, and gouache, but clay is the medium she continues to come back to. She is especially drawn to the way clay can be shaped and transformed, and views it as a reflection of resilience and possibility. For her, working with clay is both grounding and cathartic, encouraging both presence and focus. She enjoys sharing that experience with others and watching them settle into the creative process in their own way.