My name is Jacob Goldsmith, Ph.D. (Instagram: @jacob_the_madpotter). I grew up in New Jersey and have also lived in California, Kentucky, and Michigan. My approach to ceramics blends artistic creativity with a scientist’s attention to detail, with a special focus on surface decoration and glaze formulation research.

​

I have presented at Seton Hall University on the history of ceramics—from the earliest human-made pottery to the development of semiconductors at Bell Labs. My presentation, Why My Coffee Mug Holds Hot Liquids: A Brief History of the Art & Science of Clays and Ceramics, explored the scientific innovations behind ceramic materials and their role in modern technology.

​

For more than two years, I have researched Mocha Diffusion, a unique pottery surface-decoration technique. Alongside one of my research students, I had the opportunity to present this work to an international audience.

​

Since the summer of 2022, I have also immersed myself in hand-building with clay. Much of this work centers on marbled clay, or nerikomi, designed to resemble natural geodes and agates. Several of these pieces have been sold through shows and retail spaces.

​

Throughout my ceramics journey, I have carefully documented my learning process in laboratory-style notebooks. To date, these include introductory clay lessons, more than twenty project-based lesson plans with countless variations, thirty hand-drawn figures, hundreds of photographs of finished work, and years of reflections on the creative process. My long-term goal is to transform this material into a beautifully designed guidebook exploring both the art and science of ceramics.

​

I am also the proud owner of this studio and look forward to guiding, encouraging, and creating alongside you on your own clay journey.