Our Team
Tayte Kelly
Tayte Kelly is the founder and owner of The Pottery Den, a community pottery studio inspired by her mom’s love for pottery and her own passion for bringing people together. Tayte has always been drawn to the creativity and connection that comes from sharing experiences—whether it’s gathering around a dinner table or a pottery wheel.
With The Pottery Den, she’s created a space where people of all skill levels can slow down, get creative, and connect through the simple joy of making something by hand.
Founder/Owner
Lauren Woods
Lauren Woods was born and raised in the Mad River Valley area of Vermont, where she began working with clay in High School and has continued to this day. Lauren has worked in various community studios, non-profit spaces and currently teaches through multiple locations in the Gallatin Valley, creates her own work in her private studio, and offers private lessons, workshops and commercial parties in Bozeman Montana where she currently lives. Lauren works with all ages, 4 and up, if you are curious she will meet you where you are at! Lauren loves to work with clay for fun and professionally, she also enjoys trail running, reading in the sun with her dog, and a good meal shared with friends. Lauren is also a counseling Astrologer, so if you are curious there, don't be shy to share your birthday with her!
Instructor
Thomas Robinson
Thomas is originally from Bainbridge Island, Washington and moved to Bozeman in 2023 where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts with a focus in ceramics at Montana State University. Ever since setting up his first studio in his bedroom during the Covid pandemic, he has fallen in love with clay and the community that it fosters and hasn’t looked back. Thomas enjoys teaching and beyond the Den, shares his passion for ceramics through his roles as president of the MSU Ceramics Guild and an ambassador of the MSU College of Arts and Architecture. He’s always excited to connect with people of all backgrounds and experiences through clay and creativity.
Instructor
Ryan Tanner
Ryan was born and raised in Central Texas and began her ceramics journey and concentration in studio arts at Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX. Her art revolves around identity and personal understanding, rooted in the exploration of her mixed Mexican and Korean-American background. During her time in undergrad, Ryan explored and connected with ceramic communities all over the country, from Mendocino, CA, to Midtown Manhattan, where she worked as a studio technician and participated in her first Studio Residency. Ryan is very passionate about being hands-on in her artistic practice, becoming specific in her studies: i.e., making and mixing her own clays and glazes, various firing techniques, and exploring traditional ceramic techniques from all over the world.
Instructor
Peyton Gavitte
Peyton Gavitte is a ceramic artist and instructor based in Bozeman, Montana. Born and raised in Missoula, she was introduced to clay in college while earning a degree in graphic design, where her love of illustration and visual storytelling first took shape. Clay never let go of her. After a few years working in studios and exploring the craft, her curiosity grew into a way of life, and she went on to study ceramics in a five-month intensive program in Italy. She now is pursuing creating her own business to sell her art work and shares her passion for clay through teaching. At the wheel, Peyton finds a rare space to slow down and focus on one thing as something beautiful takes form. She loves sharing that experience with her students, and she believes that creative community fosters belonging and that learning something new is good for the soul. Ceramics is endlessly deep, and Peyton teaches from a posture of humility: she shares what she knows and keeps learning right alongside her students.
She welcomes anyone, from first-time throwers to seasoned makers, to sit down at the wheel and make something with her.
Instructor
Russ Brausch
Russ Brausch grew up on the coast of Maine and foothills of colored. He fell in love with ceramics at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and worked as a ceramic tech for two years while attending school there. Russ achieved his Master of Fine Arts degree at Montana State University and spent his first year there firing wood, soda, gas kilns, and building two kilns. His work focuses on surface decoration with western motifs like skulls and wildlife. He has a passion for teaching art at various institutions in Bozeman.
Instructor
Mariah Lucy
Mariah was born and raised in a rural area of Washington state. Growing up on a farm encased in the mountains of the Methow Valley, Mariah learned to appreciate the environment at a young age. Mariah’s appreciation of the natural world translates to her surface decoration on her thrown pots, organic built forms, and tiles. Mariah started learning ceramics at Montana State University and finished her degree in Art Education by co-teaching ceramics at one of the local high schools.
Instructor