Tom and Elaine Coleman in their studio in Oregon. 1970's
In 1964 Tom and Elaine Coleman found each other when they both went to The Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon. Elaine went for one and a half years and then got a job while Tom finished school. They got married in 1967 and Tom graduated with a Fine Arts Degree in 1968.
In 1972 they moved out of Portland to Canby, Oregon with their two boys and set up their pottery studio. In 1987 they moved to Henderson, Nevada just out of Las Vegas. From graduation till now Tom Coleman has been a full time studio potter. They opened Coleman Clay Studio in las Vegas from 1994 to 2001. This was a studio for throwing classes and private studio spaces and a gallery. Tom now works in his studio at home and does many workshops and shows each year. The desert has greatly influenced his work just as the Northwest did when living there.
Elaine did mostly slab work in the 70′s and handbuilt pieces. In 1975 she began incising some of Tom’s porcelain pots. Tom and Elaine have been collaborating on their work for the last 35 years. Tom throws all of her pieces now and she does the surface design. Elaine does some workshops with Tom and many exhibitions. They have a showroom for serious buyers open by appointment only. Please call to schedule an appointment #702-564-4001.