Located in upstate New York just 8 miles from the resort city of Saratoga Springs, SCAC’s mission is to promote the ceramic arts, to provide a place for people to explore the medium of clay, hone and develop their skills, and create a community focused on collaboration with faculty, visiting clay artists, students and visitors.

Saratoga Clay Art Center's doors are open to individuals and artists of all ages, ethnicities, races, genders and incomes and we are committed to engaging everyone in creative expression and discovery through the making and exhibiting of ceramic art.

The 13,000 square foot facility is home to 30 clay artists who enjoy private and shared studio space, a large classroom, glaze room, kiln room and the Schacht Gallery, which features the breadth and depth of contemporary ceramics by local, regional, national and international clay artists. Our classes in wheel throwing and handbuilding run year round for adults and children of all levels, and we offer private lessons, parties and events. Weekend and week-long workshops feature mid-career and established clay artists from across the country and are held on a regular basis, attracting participants from as far away as Hawaii, California and Florida.

We offer classes with experienced and recognized teaching artists, private and shared studio spaces, workshops, artists in residence, gallery space, and the latest equipment and technology to satisfy your every desire for exploration in clay, including:

Jill Fishon-Kovachick
Executive Director

instagram: @jill_fishon _kovachick

Jill received her MFA in ceramics from Vermont College and her B.S. at Skidmore College with a concentration in ceramics. She spent seventeen years teaching for Special Programs at Skidmore College. Jill exhibits her work both locally and regionally and is the Founder and Director of Saratoga Clay Arts Center.

mark Tarabula
Studio MANAGER

instagram: @marktarabula

Mark Tarabula acquired his MFA in Ceramics at Edinboro University in Edinboro, PA. He received his BFA in Ceramics from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI. During the years in between his degrees, he was a resident artist in several places including The Ceramic Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gallery-One in Ellensburg, Washington and with Justin Rothshank in Goshen, Indiana.  He was a SCAC 2020-22 Artist in Residence before coming on staff full time.

Leigh taylor mickelson
Artistic Director

instagram: @ltmick

Leigh Taylor Mickelson, a resident of Ossining, NY, is an artist and independent consultant with 23 years of experience in nonprofit arts management and program development. She has curated and organized dozens of ceramic exhibitions for galleries and organizations across the US. Since April 2019 she has been SCAC’s Artistic Director, managing communications, organizing our exhibitions and developing programs.

LYNDEE DEAL MARKETING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

instagram: @lyndee.deal

Lyndee Deal is a ceramic artist from Dallas, TX. She received an MFA in Ceramics, from the University of North Texas (2019). Shortly after graduation she completed residencies in both Columbia, MO and at Saratoga Clay Arts Center (2021-22). Her ‘funk’tional work has been exhibited nationally and prompts questions of body positivity and body neutrality. She has also extensive experience with art-related content creation and marketing.

riley mcmanus
2025-26 artist in residence

instagram: @rhtm.art

More info coming soon!

shannon owo Webb
2025-26 artist in residence

instagram: @shannon.owo

“I recontextualize Korean folktales, mythology, and customs through my lived experience, creating a personalized narrative that is both familiar and uniquely my own. These experiences take shape through symbolic representation and metaphor. The resulting sculptures serve as cultural markers, telling fragments of my story. Ultimately, my practice is an ongoing cultural adjustment—an effort to be an active participant in the world and contribute to the evolving culture of mixed-race identity."

Ava tesoriero
2025-26 artist in residence

instagram: @avatesoriero_art

Ava Tesoriero is a ceramic artist from Chatham, New Jersey. She recently graduated from Skidmore College in Spring 2025, earning a B.S. in Studio Art with a concentration in ceramics. She also interned at Saratoga Clay Arts Center in the Summer of 2024 and is eager to return to this collaborative community! Her wheel-thrown work explores the intricacies of the bottleneck form. The small, narrow opening of her vessels adds an element of curiosity by drawing the viewer in closer and encouraging thoughts of the unseen, the hidden, and the possibilities that lie within.

jess levin
2025-26 Artist In ResidenCE

instagram: @jesseramics

Jess Levin is a New York based ceramic sculpture artist. They received a BFA in Sculpture in 2022 from SUNY Purchase in Westchester, NY. They often juxtapose the cold and harsh nature ceramics typically carries with the soft and friendly connotation of found fibers, including lace and collaged fabrics. The playful and cartoonish characters they create bring to life a narrative of self-exploration and expression.