We are a powerfully creative group of makers who are aware of the vulnerability that accompanies art-making. We commit ourselves to supporting one another, and to fighting the insipient bigotry of our culture. Together we’ve created a flexible, skill-building atmosphere in our studio. All are welcome to join us in this celebration of the artist within—OUTLAW ARTS – A Collaborative Clay Studio.

Cornelia Kietzman
Mercedes Weathers
Charlotte Anderson​
Meri Adelman
Martha Knox
Lisa Irgang
Adrienne Tyrey​
Gilana Tahir​
Sara Charmé-Zane

FOUNDER/STUDIO MANAGER

Cornelia Kietzman

Cornelia has had her hand in clay her whole life. A second generation potter, Cornelia is one who prefers to make art in a truly collaborative atmosphere. Working on the wheel, with porcelain or stoneware, Cornelia loves making functional pieces that delight the eye and hand.

cornelia@outlaw-arts.com

TEACHING ARTIST, management team member

Meri Adelman

Vibrant visual artist who has brought her drawing background into clay. Playful and wise, she works intimately with you and your clay in handbuilding projects.

Meri’s website

TEACHING ARTIST

Adrienne Tyrey

Adrienne took the beginner wheel throwing class at Outlaw Arts in September 2019 and was immediately hooked. When COVID-19 shut down classes, she continued to build her skills through YouTube, Instagram, and good old trial and error. She is dedicated to constantly experimenting with new skills and techniques. 
 
Adrienne loves to create functional ceramics with vibrant surface decoration and glazing. With over a  decade of experience as an educator, she is excited to teach pottery beginners for the first time. 

TEACHING ARTIST, assistant manager

Martha Knox

Martha Knox is a teaching artist and sole proprietor of Words On Woodcuts Press. They specialize in woodcuts and recent work includes several time-based conceptual projects. Their work has been exhibited in the Delaware Art Museum, Sandy Spring Museum, and Philadelphia City Hall. Through their independent press they publishe books and calendars featuring ther artwork. As a teaching artist Martha has designed highly engaging arts curriculum and has worked with hundreds of students of all ages. They is the recipient of teaching fellowships from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Print Center, and the Community Arts Center in Wallingford.  Martha holds a Masters in Fine Arts degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. 

Martha’s website

Studio Member

Mercedes Weathers

Mercedes Weathers is a ceramic/sculpture artist whose work is focused on organic forms and vessels that relate to the human form.  Her work primarily uses hand building techniques.  Several of her pieces also have a direct correlation to expressing her poetry in a physical form.  She has taught clay hand building for various skill levels at various schools and educational centers such as the Bank Street School for Children and the Allens Lane Art Center.  She studied clay sculpture and ceramics during her undergraduate studies at Sarah Lawrence College during which time she also studied under artist apprenticeships and at the The Studio Museum in Harlem.

Studio Member

Charlotte Anderson

Charlotte has been working with clay for over 20 years. She does wheel work and glazing as a self-care strategy in a stressful world.

TEACHING ARTIST, management team member

Gilana Tahir

Gilana is passionate about creating functional, hand-built pieces to bring beauty and joy to your daily rituals. Nature inspires most of her delicate pieces and her work often features impressed botanicals and organic shapes.

TEACHING ARTIST

Lisa Irgang

Lisa Irgang has been making art from her earliest days. Some years ago, she discovered clay as her canvas, using her painting skills to create glazed ceramic tiles, bowls, cups, and sculptural pieces. Lisa graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Tyler School of Art with a Master of Art Education degree, and a two-year independent study of arts and culture in St. Petersburg, Russia during the Soviet era. Lisa taught school age children, many with special needs, leading to therapeutic work with infants, toddlers, and school age children with special needs, and finally, to a career of advocacy and as a special education advisor responsible for oversight of programs in public schools and charter schools. 

Lisa’s website

Studio Member

Sara Charme-Zane