Bill van Gilder

A professional potter for more than 30 years, Bill van Gilder began his clay work at age 15, as a studio apprentice to the late Byron Temple. During the following years, he apprenticed in Ireland and England, and received a degree from Harrow School of Art, London, England. He then established and managed two large teaching/training centers in Southern Africa (Lesotho & Swaziland) under the auspices of The World Bank. Bill returned to the U.S. in 1979 and established a studio and craft gallery atop South Mountain in Central Maryland, which he continues to operate today.

Van Gilder has served on the faculty of The Art League, Alexandria, VA, and is founder/director of The Frederick Pottery School, Frederick, MD. He currently leads workshops nationally and internationally, on pottery forming, decorating, and firing techniques, as well as workshops on kiln building. He has recently designed a line of professional potter’s tools (van Gilder Clay-Tools), available through retailers nationwide.

Bill also writes a regular ‘Teaching Techniques’ column for Clay Times magazine (USA), and is the creator, writer and host of Throwing Clay, an internationally televised DIY Network Television series about making pottery.His clay work is exhibited and held in collections worldwide. It has been featured in ceramic periodicals including Clay Times, Ceramics Monthly, Ceramic Review (UK), Ceramic Arts (China), Sgraffito (S. Africa), and books including 500 Teapots and High Fire Glazes (Lark Books), Salt Glazing (A&C Black, London), and The Art of American Ceramics (Krause Books) and more. Van Gilder recently authored Wheel-Thrown Pottery, a cooperative book venture from Lark Books and the DIY Television Network.

For a more detailed list of Bill's professional and educational experience, exhibitions, workshops and publications click here.