Deb Schwartzkopf

Deb Schwartzkopf is a studio potter, instructor, and an active community member born and raised in Seattle, WA. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alaska. She worked for studio potters in the Anchorage area, which gave her a strong foundation to spring from. Deb focused on glazes for a year of independent study at San Diego State University; after which she completed a Masters of Fine Arts at Penn State. She went on to teach at institutions such as: Ohio University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Washington, and University of Georgia’s study abroad program in Cortona. Deb has worked as an artist in residence nationally and internationally at the Archie Bray Foundation (MT), Mudflat Studios (MA), The Clay Studio (PA), Pottery Northwest (WA), Watershed (ME), Sanbao in Jingdezhen, China, and the Residency for Ceramics-Berlin, Germany. Since 2002, Deb teaches widely at ceramics centers including Penland School of Craft (May 2019 - NC), Gaya Ceramics Center (2014, 2019 Indonesia) and she is planning a workshop at IARE (2020 - France). Her artwork is included in collections such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection. She is included in numerous publications including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine. She has contributed to Red Clay Rambler Podcasts and completed a full-length DVD with Ceramic Arts Daily. In 2013 Deb purchased a home and began to establish what is now Rat City Studios - a community pottery studio where she offers adult classes, studio memberships and works with emerging artists who compete for a long-term studio assistant position. Ceramics Monthly awarded Deborah Schwartzkopf Ceramic Artist of the Year for 2019.