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 Saratoga Clay Arts Center (2021-22). Her ‘funk’tional work has been exhibited nationally and aims to prompt questions of body positivity and body neutrality. She also has extensive experience with art-related content creation and marketing.

riley mcmanus
2025-27 artist in residence

instagram: @texturethief

Riley McManus is a ceramic artist who uses clay not only as his medium, but as a tool to record the intricate patterns of both natural and human altered environments. His artistic journey began on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin, where iron-stained clay crumbles from the cliffs. It was here his curiosity first took root with the discovery of this malleable material and all the possibilities it held for creation. He earned his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from UW-Madison in 2020 and has completed residencies across the country. At SCAC he continues to explore the intersections of nature, material, and human impact.

Carley holzem
2026-27 artist-in- residence

instagram: @carleyholzemspots

Carley is from a small rural town in central Wisconsin called Mosinee. In high school, she began to love all types of art and grew a passion for pottery. She then earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin Stout, with a BFA in ceramics. After graduating, she went to Minneapolis for the year-long Fogelberg residency at Northern Clay Center. She then accepted a residency at Clay Art Center in Port Chester, New York, where she stayed for two years. 

Cesar Duarte
2026-27 Artist-In- ResidenCE

instagram: @cesarduarteceramics

Cesar Duarte is a Hispanic functional ceramic artist from Yuma, Arizona. He has an Associates in Arts from Arizona Western College and received his BFA in Ceramics at Northern Arizona University in 2025. Cesar focuses on creating wheel-thrown functional wares with sharp delineation and voluminous profiles. He is currently focusing on atmospheric firings that will embolden and soften lines. While maintaining function and craftsmanship throughout his work.