Serenity
Meet Serenity, Centered’s founder and primary instructor
Serenity first discovered pottery in 2007 and has since dabbled in most every form of the medium including throwing, sculpture, and slip cast porcelain. As much as she loves making, she has found her greatest fulfillment in teaching.
Serenity keeps structured instruction to a minimum and instead prefers to work one and one with students. She also teaches yoga which has deeply influenced how she teaches throwing on the wheel. Serenity teaches from a perspective of body mechanics and believes that breath and mindset are as important to the pottery process as creativity and skill.
Serenity's teaching superpowers are simplifying complex processes, and creating an atmosphere that celebrates curiosity and exploration. She encourages connection and community, and invites students to release expectations of perfection. She teaches to all levels, but has a soft spot for beginners and has tips that help students catch on quickly.
In her own work, Serenity is deeply inspired by nature; incorporating carving, sgraffito, and sculptural motifs of plants and flowers. She pulls her palette from flowers and never met a pastel she didn't love.
During the day, Serenity is a product designer for Williams Sonoma, working on projects ranging from candles to home organization and pretty much everything in between. She has designed in multiple different materials, including ceramic, which has added the layer of understanding the material at an industrial scale. When she's not in the studio, you can find her hiking, doing yoga, caring for her many plants, or crocheting.
Serenity’s Teachers
In yoga we are taught to honor our teachers. Those who have shaped the people we become and the way we see the world. These are a few of those people.
Gillian is Serenity’s yoga mentor and dear friend. They met at Metta when the studio re-opened post pandemic. Serenity’s teaching style is deeply influenced by Gillian. Gillian centers grace, acceptance, and a celebration of our brains and bodies exactly as they are today. They jokingly share a braincell named Bianca who is constantly bouncing ideas back and forth between them.
Dorian was Serenity’s first ceramics teacher in 2006 at Lake Superior College in Duluth, Minnesota. He taught her the basics of ceramics and gave her the freedom and encouragement to explore complex themes and construction methods. During her time at LSC, Serenity explored art as a method of processing trauma. This time was deeply instrumental to her formation as an artist and growth as a human.
Tom was Serenity’s longest teaching relationship. She studied under him for 2 years at the University of Minnesota and he introduced her to mold making and slip cast porcelain. Tom encouraged her exploration of mass manufacturing and functional forms and good naturedly excused her tendency to drift during lessons involving glaze and material chemistry. (Sorry Tom!)
Wyatt taught Serenity throwing in a 2 hour workshop in 2019. Although she has a degree in ceramics, she had never learned to throw. Wyatt teaches from a perspective of body mechanics which is the unlock Serenity needed to finally understand and master the throwing process.
Michele taught Serenity in her 200 hour yoga teacher training in the Spring of 2024. Under Michele, Serenity gained a deep understanding of anatomy, body mechanics, and breath, which fundamentally influenced her teaching style.
Christopher Priest
Chris was Serenity’s professor during her first year in the interior design program at the University of Minnesota. He instilled many of the fundamentals of design that have served her throughout her career. His encouragement and belief in her skill and work ethic helped her through an immensely rigorous program.