The Figure in Clay

a ceramic bust of a human figure with monkey figure set below where the chest would be.

Fall 2025
Dates: September 4 - December 4, 2025* (12 classes with 14 weeks of studio access)
Day/Time: Thursdays, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Level: Intermediate - Advanced
Instructor: Claudia Olds Goldie

Working from imagination, photographs, drawings, or any personal source of inspiration, students will learn to build hollow figurative sculpture. Starting with a slab, ceramic techniques such as darting, modeling, pinching and coiling will be used to create a detailed, proportionate, anatomically convincing form. Both traditional glazing and alternative surface techniques will be considered.

This class will encourage each student to develop their own sense of style and emphasis. Demonstrations, discussions, and slide presentations will span a wide range of sculptural approaches, techniques, and imagery. That will help to enhance each student’s individual concept of what figurative ceramic sculpture can be and how it can capture a powerful sense of emotion and narrative.

*• No class on October 16th for an academic event.

• No class on November 27th for the Thanksgiving Holiday

The registration lottery for Fall 2025 Ceramics Courses will be open from July 21 through July 24. Visit our Registration Policies page for complete dates and instructions on how to register.

Materials List

Basic Pottery Tool Kit
Apron
Small Towel
Notebook/Sketchbook

All registered students will receive an email confirmation with the class syllabus one week before the start date.

Tool Purchases:
Here is the list of available tools and materials at the Ceramics Program. You may also consider ordering from a local supplier (Sheffield Pottery, Amherst Pottery Supply or Portland Pottery). If you have questions, please email Ji-Eun Kim at jikim@fas.harvard.edu.

Cost:

Course Fees: $150 for Harvard College Undergraduate Students; $555 for Harvard Graduate Students; $1,170 for Adult Community Members; Harvard Employee TAP Regular and Long Service - follow the instructions in the online registration system for pricing.
Your course fee covers all clays (terra cotta, midrange, and high fire stoneware, sculpture body, porcelain, and midrange casting slip), bisque firing, glazes, and glaze firing up to 8,600 cubic inches of kiln space, as well as 7-day access to the Ceramics Program and its equipment from the start date of your class through December 5, 2025.

User types:

Adult Community: 18+; General Public; Harvard alumni, fellows, Extension School students, and faculty/staff who are not TAP-eligible; students from universities other than Harvard.
Harvard Employees eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): TAP regular (employees worked less than 15 years) and TAP long service (employees who worked 15 or more years at Harvard).
Harvard College Undergraduate Students: Currently enrolled students at Harvard College. This does not include Harvard Extension School Undergraduate Students. You must register with your Harvard email – we can arrange for an alternative email to be used for class after registration is complete.
Harvard Graduate Students: Currently enrolled students in a Harvard University Graduate Program. This does not include Harvard Extension School Graduate Students.

Questions?

For questions regarding course content, policies, staffing or facilities, please contact Director, Kathy King.
For questions regarding registration, purchase of tools and materials, please contact Administrative Coordinator, Ji-Eun Kim.
For questions regarding electric kiln certification, materials, studio equipment and safety policies, please contact Director, Kathy King while Instructional Operations Coordinator Mary Cale Wilson is on leave.