Bethany Cohen

Bio

Bethany Cohen is a functional potter based in Hypoluxo, Florida, where she works as a professional studio artist and instructor. She holds an MFA in Ceramics from Florida Atlantic University and a BFA in Ceramics from Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics, where she studied under renowned ceramicists.

With nearly two decades of experience at the potter’s wheel, Bethany has been an active member of several vibrant ceramic communities, including the ceramics studio at Skidmore College in her hometown of Saratoga Springs, New York, and the Saratoga Clay Arts Center, where she completed a year-long Artist-in-Residence program.

In addition to her studio practice, Bethany is dedicated to arts education and the mentorship of emerging artists. She currently serves as studio manager at Gasper Arts Center in Dania Beach, Florida.

Artist Statement

My connection to clay began long before I received any formal training—rooted in the curiosity and wonder of childhood. Growing up in Saratoga Springs, NY, surrounded by natural springs and winding creek beds, I would often wander through the State Park until I found a stream. There, I would dig patiently, uncovering the soft, natural clay formed by water and earth. I’d sit for hours, shaping tiny pots until it was time to go home.

Even now, working with clay transports me to that same meditative, trance-like state—a place of peace and pure focus. It feels like returning to the source, becoming one with the material once again.

Each artist finds fulfillment in different parts of their process, but for many of us, the act of creation is deeply intimate. When I work with clay, my hands and fingers feel like extensions of my soul. Every step—whether forming, folding, or twisting—intensifies the creative rhythm and pushes me to explore further. The clay becomes a personal language, a way to translate emotion into form.

Creating functional ware allows me to extend that intimacy even further, forging a quiet connection with those who use my pieces in their daily routines. In this way, the process continues—touching lives beyond the studio, long after the clay has set.

Exhibitions