BIO

Texas emerging artist Jo Clay searched long and hard for the perfect outlet for her creative spirit. Her story begins and resumes in clay. While studying music and art in college, Jo discovered she had a knack for thinking and creating in 3-D, as did the instructors in the Art Department at Indiana University who included her first pieces in a student art exhibit.  But Jo was raised to disregard the visual arts as a “real” career path, so she ventured in another direction. Fifteen years and a lot of life and experience later, she returned to clay and found it to be the perfect outlet. She found that her time away from clay only enriched her and offered new directions in her evolving body of work. 

When Jo returned to art, the kind and generous mentors at the Creative Arts Center in Dallas recognized her passion and talent for ceramics and provided her with the opportunity and a place to create.  Under their guidance, she honed her craft and started down the path to a new life.  

Jo currently teaches both at the Creative Arts Center and privately from her home studio. Additionally, she has taught at the Casa Linda Elementary after-school program Big Thoughts/Thriving Minds.  She was also selected as the first artist in residence for the Richardson Methodist Hospital’s Oncology Department. She participates in Empty Bowls and numerous fundraising events and workshops. Her work has been sold in galleries and stores.

Jo Clay