Evan Wagman's journey with clay began at just 15 years old at Riker Hill Art Park, where he fell headfirst into the world of ceramics. Immersed in a vibrant community of artists, He spent his formative years learning, working, and growing at the park until age 22, where his curiosity and ambition carried him overseas.

 

Soon after, he traveled to southern France for a raku workshop in Cordes-sur-Ciel, an experience that opened the door to an unforgettable tour of historic pottery villages, including Vallauris, Saint-Quentin la Potterie, and La Borne. There, Evan worked alongside master artisans, absorbing centuries-old traditions through fully immersive, hands-on experiences.

 

After experiencing his first all-ceramics art show in Millabeek, Holland, He met master potter Thomas Thunig, an encounter that forever changed his artistic path. Evan spent six months working in Thunig's studio in Germany and traveling through pottery villages and markets, where generosity, shared knowledge, and a deep love of craft shaped his understanding of clay as both material and language.

 

Returning to the U.S. at his father's request, Evan continued charting his path with guidance from renowned glassblower Lenny DiNardo. This mentorship led to a scholarship for a three-month intensive workshop at Penland School of Craft, where he studied with Sequoia Miller.

 

Despite never having experienced clay in a traditional academic setting, Evan pursued graduate studies and earned his MFA in Ceramics from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. His time in graduate school solidified not only his technical voice but his calling as an educator and mentor.

 

Evan went on to serve as Ceramic Studio Manager at the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey before returning to Southern Illinois as Education Director at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, Missouri. After two decades of collecting equipment, experience, and encouragement, especially from his wife, Evan opened his own ceramics studio, a long-held dream realized. Shortly after, he was invited to teach high school art at Central Visual and

 

Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he now shares his passion with emerging artists while continuing to run his studio.

 

Evan's love for clay and teaching has only deepened over the years, and he is thrilled to partner with Mud and Soul as he begins his next chapter, creating, teaching, and inspiring the next generation of artists and art lovers alike.