Junk Pot Studio
604 New Park Ave, West Hartford, CT 06110
Host: Pedro Centeno
Guest Artists: Ashley Paskov, Eina Rieger, Melanie Wulforst, Nick Swift
Whether you’re looking to try something new, hone your skills, or become part of a dynamic creative hub, JunkPot Studio is the perfect place to get your hands in the mud and bring your artistic vision to life.
Located in the heart of West Hartford’s vibrant design district, JunkPot Studio is a welcoming ceramics and pottery studio owned and operated by potter Pedro Centeno. More than just a studio – we are a thriving creative community where artists, crafters, and clay enthusiasts come together to learn, create, and connect.
Pedro Centeno
As an educator, Pedro hopes to inspire students to explore their innate creativity and develop their skills. Because ideas are not enough, his teaching emphasizes proper techniques and craftsmanship.
Pedro is know for being patient and addressing students needs and any level.
Pedro is a maker and an educator. His artistic focus is to produce one-of-a-kind work with attention to detail and fine craftsmanship. Pedro draws inspiration from architecture, its design and materials, and how they perform over time.
His fifteen-year experience creating with clay includes studying with Vicente Garcia at Central Connecticut State University, teaching at Wesleyan Potters, serving as manager/head instructor for the ceramics program at The Farmington Valley Art Center, and is now the owner/operator of Junk Pot Studio.
Nick Swift
@irv_south
Inspired by nature, each of Nick’s pieces is thoughtfully crafted and one-of-a-kind. What started as an effort to refine the weight of his pottery has grown into an exploration of surface design, texture, and movement.
Ashley Paskov
https://www.ashleypaskov.com
https://www.instagram.com/ashleypaskovceramics/
Ashley Paskov is a ceramic artist and educator based in Wethersfield, Connecticut. She discovered clay at Central Connecticut State University, where she earned her BA in Ceramics in 2015, and later completed her MFA at Edinboro University in 2022. She has taught and exhibited along the East Coast, from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and served as Director of Ceramics at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft. Ashley currently teaches at Elizabeth City State University and Central Connecticut State University, sharing her passion for clay with students and the community.
Her work explores natural processes of growth, defense, and healing. Sculptural forms reference botanical organisms and their survival strategies through carved textures, large-scale proportions, and waxy matte surfaces. Her functional ceramics soften these ideas into intimate, everyday objects. Through both teaching and making, Ashley encourages reflection on resilience and the parallels between the natural world and human experience.
Eina Rieger
@einamade
My functional ceramics bridge the gap between art and function. I love bringing a bit of extra color and whimsy to everyday objects. I enjoy playing with textures and colors in the decoration of my work. I am inspired by nature, vintage and modern textiles, and the printmaking process.
I create my work using both wheel and handbuilding methods. I love the vibrant colors of underglazes, and I use a sgraffito technique to carve through the underglaze, creating patterns and texture. My work is fired to stoneware temperatures and is ready to use for food and drink.
Melanie Wulforst
https://www.mjwceramics.com
@mjwceramics
Melanie Wulforst is a studio potter in Middletown, CT, originally from Long Island, NY. She received her BFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2014 and has been selling her work full time since 2019. Her work is a search for spiritual meaning - in practice it is an exploration of cultural and historical design elements on traditional pottery form. Melanie creates her porcelain forms primarily on the potter’s wheel, with any combination of coil, slab, or hand-built additions. She adorns her pieces with intricate, slip-trailed patterns and applies celadon glazes to highlight them. Her work is fired to cone 10 in an electric kiln. It is designed to be both beautiful and functional - food, dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe.
