Elaine Rowgo

Elaine Rowgo has been creating art since the age of five, when she first began leading impromptu “art classes” for her younger siblings. That early spark ignited a lifelong passion for both making and teaching art. As a child, she took classes at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and as a teenager, she continued to grow her skills at Kansas University and through volunteering as an art teacher at Cleveland settlement houses.

Elaine studied painting at Carnegie Mellon University, where she later expanded her practice to include clay. Her approach to ceramics blends sculpture and painting, reflecting a deep curiosity and a love of experimentation. Rather than focusing on production pottery, she explores form, texture, and expression in each piece. In 2016, she held a solo exhibition at the Foosaner Education Center titled Unconventional Forms—a fitting reflection of her creative philosophy.

Working in series, Elaine’s subject matter ranges widely—from whimsical cats and expressive heads to mythic dragons, bowls, and vases. Each new project must bring a challenge; for her, learning is central to the joy of making. “I hope my work is forever evolving and improving—or I don’t want to create it,” she says. “Everything is an inspiration.”