Meet Our Team

Laura Klein, who joined Ephraim Pottery in 2000, is renowned for her bold sculpting style characterized by high relief and flowing, organic designs, particularly excelling in creating small creatures with big personalities. Much of her inspiration comes from the time she spends immersed in nature on her farmette, which serves as both her home and a wellspring of creative ideas. Laura nurtures a diverse array of animals on her property, including pigs, horses, chickens, roosters, dogs, cats, and fish, all of which influence her artistic vision. In addition to caring for her animals, she is passionate about gardening and foraging, allowing her to observe and interact with nature’s intricate details that often find their way into her sculptural work. Laura’s unique pieces at Ephraim Pottery reflect not just her technical skill, but also her intimate understanding of and deep connection to the natural world that surrounds her daily life.

Since joining us in 2015, Alek Schroeder has continually honed his throwing skills, pushing himself to master increasingly larger and more challenging forms. His passion for ceramics, cultivated throughout high school and college, is evident in his work. Alek’s fresh design perspective continually expands our artistic boundaries. Outside the studio, Alek shares his expertise by teaching wheel throwing classes, further deepening his understanding of the craft and inspiring new generations of potters.

Matthew Drees, who joined us in October 2019, holds a BFA in Art and Design from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. While his personal work outside Ephraim is characterized by a gestural style, at our studio Matthew has dedicated himself to mastering the Arts and Crafts aesthetic. He has become instrumental in expanding our Rhythm line, creating exacting, tightly designed pots that beautifully reflect the Arts and Crafts style. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and constant refinement, Matthew’s work embodies the precision and elegance central to Ephraim’s artistic vision. His ability to adapt his artistic approach demonstrates both his versatility and his commitment to our studio’s aesthetic principles.

Christine Hill joined Ephraim Pottery’s studio office team in 2020. She transitioned to our glazing department in 2022 to specialize in our popular Ephraim Elemental line of functional tableware. She takes joy in transforming bisque forms into colorful functional pieces for your everyday enjoyment. When not in the studio she can be found hiking scenic trails with her dog, creating delicious meals in the kitchen, and traveling the world for beauty and inspiration.