About

Learn From Experienced Potters

Joel and Matthew are the owners of Inspire Pottery Studio. Founder and owner Joel Hildebrand is a Lancaster, PA native who spent almost a decade abroad learning unique styles in both throwing and firing pottery. He loves throwing large pots! Joel, his wife Charity, and their five kids live in Denver, PA. Matthew Hildebrand, Joel's uncle and owner of the studio, has been a potter for 40+ years. He loves creating unique shapes and styles, and challenges himself to never make the same thing twice. Over the years, Matthew has sold and sent his pottery all over the United States. He has a true love for teaching beginners the basics and foundations of pottery, and encouraging them to be creative in all aspects of the process. Both Joel and Matthew have a passion to see people take their artistic talent to a new level. The studio offers courses, one-time classes, group events, date nights, and a great atmosphere to come and learn from experienced potters while getting inspired to create something!

Our pottery studio is located inside the very first established barn in our town in the 1800s. Since then, the small town has grown and attracted more people. Today, we strive to create a positive and uplifting environment in the studio that brings our community and people together. In our studio, we have 12 wheels, 3 kilns, and lots of pottery!

Meet Our Team

Joel
Co-Owner & Teacher
- Joel has been here since day one as one of Inspire Pottery Studio’s owners. He does everything around the studio and teaches Tuesday night classes. His decades of pottery knowledge is such a gift to the studio, and he’s always willing to help encourage students to try and create any idea they bring to him!
- Fun Fact: He has five kids with his wife, Charity. Joel can also sew!
- Why Joel loves Inspire Pottery Studio: The community that it has created. Finding and focusing on someone’s unique creativity and growing that gift is the best part!
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Matt
Co-Owner & Teacher
- Matt has been here since day one as one of Inspire Pottery Studio’s owners. He also teaches Thursday night classes, and sometimes you’ll find him instructing one-time classes, too. His 45 years of pottery knowledge is such a gift to the studio, and he’s always willing to help students out!
- Fun Fact: He has three wonderful grandchildren he adores!
- Why Matt loves Inspire Pottery Studio: He loves being able to create anything he wants!
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Charity
Studio Wrangler & Administrator
- Charity is married to Joel and has been around since day one. She helps in many ways behind the scenes in the studio. She is spending a lot of her time taking one-time class pieces from greenware to a finished, glaze piece for students to take home.
- Fun Fact: She lived in Turkey with Joel for 9.5 years, and their two youngest children were born there. Her favorite part about the Turkish culture is their hospitality, which Charity always makes a top priority, too.
- Why Charity loves Inspire Pottery Studio: It’s just such a fun place to be, and everyone is so helpful!
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Chrisandra
Studio Technician, Administrator & 6-week teacher
- Chrisandra has been a studio member since 2020, after her husband surprised her with a gift certificate for a 6-week class. She found her love for pottery back in high school. Chrisandra is a huge help around the studio, helping with custom orders, teaching, and so much more!
- Fun Fact: Chrisandra loves to travel, and to swap stories with others about their adventures! She has been blessed to visit many places across the US, Caribbean, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland, and more.
- Why she loves Inspire Studio: "It's all about the community and companionship! I've met some of the most amazing people at Inspire. We share ideas, talents, and more importantly, there is so much care and friendship shared every day. It's a truly unique environment."
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Evangelyn
Studio Artist & One-Time Class Instructor
- She has been a studio member for a year, and has quickly proven that she has natural talent for pottery. She spends much of her time at the studio creating beautiful pieces, helping with large orders, and also instructs some of our one time classes.
- Fun Fact: Prior to falling in love with pottery, Evangelyn was really interested in Western saddle horseback riding, and also raised pigs.
- Why She loves Inspire Studio: "I love the people. It's like having a second family."
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Faith
Studio Production Assistant
- She has been a studio member since January 2020, and is always willing to lend a helping hand around the studio. Faith helps take the one-time class pieces from greenware to a finished, glazed piece to take home.
- When Faith isn't at the studio, she's teaching music at Elizabethtown College, where she's an Adjunct Instructor of Clarinet and Saxophone. Teaching must be in her nature, since she's always taking the time to teach others in the studio.
- Fun Fact: She's originally from Montana!
- Why She Loves Inspire Pottery Studio: She is..."very thankful for the community here."
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Amy B
6-week Class Teacher
- Amy has been at the studio since 2019, teaching one-time classes since 2020, and 6-week classes since 2021.
- Fun Facts: She is a nurse, trucking company owner, and greeting card maker.
- Why Amy loves Inspire: The friends I have made at the studio are amazing, and we get together outside of the studio, too. Inside the studio, we work together to make amazing things and encourage one another along the way!
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Andrea
Social Media & Marketing Maven
- Has been a studio member since September 2022, and manages the social media channels for the studio, and any marketing or event materials, as needed!
- Fun Fact: When she’s not creating clay pendants and baubles, she likes to alter kantha clothing and tie dye!
- Why Andrea loves Inspire Pottery Studio: This place has become my home away from home, and the studio members are like my second family! I LOVE this place! No matter who you are, you are embraced with open arms!
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Barb
6-Week Teacher
- With more than 35 years experience as a graphic designer, learning pottery was always on the list to learn. In 2020, after a one-night class, she was hooked.
- Fun Fact: When not working with clay, Barb enjoys spending time with family, landscape gardening, baking and sewing.
- Why Barb loves Inspire Pottery Studio: The creative community has energized me, especially since assisting to teach this past year.
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Chris
6-week Class & One-Time Class Instructor
- Chris has been at the studio since March 2019, and is a one-time class instructor.
- I worked as an art teacher for 27 years, and in the last two years I’ve been lucky enough to visit 5 countries in Europe. My children and grandchildren are my greatest joys.
- Why Chris loves Inspire Pottery Studio: The atmosphere at the studio is amazing because it fosters creativity and sharing of ideas, and friendships are created amongst everyone.
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Sophia
One-Time Class Instructor
- Sophia’s first experience with pottery was in high school, and she has been at Inspire Pottery Studio since April 2023.
- Fun Fact: She sings, plays guitar, and leads worship at her church.
- Why Sophia loves Inspire Pottery Studio: I love Inspire because it’s a family of artists coming together in a community, and building one another up. It’s a space for your creativity to be unleashed and your spirit to be filled.
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Terri
One-Time Class Instructor
- Terri has been at Inspire since March of 2023, and started pottery in 2020.
- Fun Facts: Terri has a twin, grew up in KY, and loves marching bands.
- Why Terri loves Inspire Pottery Studio: I’m definitely a big fan of the community and camaraderie at the studio! It’s a great group of people that inspire creative curiosity and provide opportunities to experience various techniques and methods of making, glazing and firing clay.
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Shena
One-Time Class Instructor
- Shena’s first pottery experience was a six week class at Inspire Pottery Studio in February 2022. She’s been enjoying the learning and creative process ever since.
- Fun Fact: I love people, art, music and the great outdoors.
- Why Shena loves Inspire Pottery Studio: The community of people at Inspire Pottery is incredible in the fact that there is always someone helpful there and so much to be learned from the people around you.
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