Members
Who We Are
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Wade Johnson
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Penny Leff
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Michael Sirota
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Harry Leaf
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Tanveer Khondker
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Kara Williams
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Joe Leung
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Karen Kelley
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Sally West
Wade Johnson
Artist/Board President
I am passionate about community, exploring and understanding the natural world, and making beautiful things that have a lasting positive impact on people's lives.
Penny Leff
Artist/Treasurer
I’ve always enjoyed making things that people use. I’ve been wheel-throwing functional ceramics for about twelve years, learning traditions and playing with colors and shapes. I enjoy working in the cooperative studio, sharing the challenges of management, learning and teaching with other artists. I sell my cups, bowls, vases and other ceramics at fairs and festivals in the region, connecting directly with the people who use my affordable art.
530-902-9763
Michael Sirota
Artist/Studio Operation Manager
Harry Leaf
Artist/Member
For the past 25 years, I’ve been a full-time potter selling my goddess sculptures to galleries and shops all around the country. My work is generally sculptural, but I have done a lot of functional work as well. I use a variety of techniques, clays, glazes, and firing methods all revolving around a central form.
Tanveer Khondker
Artist/Member
I have always wondered, Endless shapes and shades and colors of nature
Shifting in shadows and light, Yet never anything is out of place
Never off balanced, Never an awkward presence of misfit
Our wheel and us, a submission to nature
We let our unadulterated emotions flow through The Earth, The water and The Fire
The creations are drawn from within - our ancient heritage of the Indian sub-continent flowing through the love and pain of our lives
I aspire to shape and infuse color that belongs as an essential rather than an imposed presence
A pot that is part of a story of life lived with its love and laughter, heartaches and pains
Binding the gathering of friends
A story that is loved
Kara Williams
Artist/Membership Chair
As a ceramist, I am continually captivated by the raw simplicity of clay and the transformative power of the wheel. In my work at Studio 23C, I focus on the art of throwing, blending traditional techniques with a contemporary perspective. Each piece I create is a journey—a dance between control and surrender, where the clay itself becomes a collaborator, guiding form and finish.
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Sitting on the board of Studio 23C, I am committed not only to refining my own craft but also to nurturing a community where artists can explore, innovate, and share their unique voices. Studio 23C is more than a workspace; it's a space for growth, creativity, and connection. Through my work, I aim to capture both the rawness and refinement of clay, celebrating the beauty in each piece's individuality and imperfections.
Joe Leung
Vice President/Web Master/Artist
As a pottery artist, I explore the connection between form, function, and nature. Inspired by the organic textures and colors of the natural world, I blend traditional techniques with innovative approaches to create unique, functional pieces. My work encourages mindfulness in everyday rituals, celebrating the beauty of imperfection and the stories each vessel holds. In a fast-paced world, I aim to remind us of the value of handmade objects and the human touch behind them.
Karen Kelley
Artist/Secretary
Sally West
Artist
I discovered their passion for art at age seven after visiting a Van Gogh exhibit, a moment that solidified their path as an artist, influenced in part by their mother. Throughout their career, they have worked in various media—painting, charcoal, collage, clay—letting each piece dictate its form. While they mostly create alone, they have cherished collaborations in dance and theater as a set designer.
As a public school art educator for over 40 years, they encouraged creativity across all ages and abilities, most recently teaching at the Oak Park Community Center. Teaching has deeply enriched both their life and their art.
Currently, their work includes ceramics, painting, and Sharpie drawings, with themes inspired by childhood memories, feminist ideas, nature, and travel. They also explore digital art, reimagining female forms and symbols in connection with the Earth. A new ceramic series featuring hats pays tribute to their grandmother and celebrates both tradition and the inner lives of women.
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Click here to find out more about Sally.