Open House, March 15, 2025, 4:00 to 8:00 PM

Elena Wendelyn is a renowned local ceramic artist and teacher. Her work features pacific northwest themes with traditional and folkloric resonances from her native Russia. Elena walks many paths in the forest of art: from electric firing and raku to woodfiring in anagama kilns around Kitsap peninsula. She throws, handbuilds, and sculpts. Her artistic preference is to explore imagery and concepts through the technique of sgraffito, scratching on soft clay, later to be fired to maturity in an electric kiln.

Elena graduated from Ural State University (Yekaterinburg, Russia) with a masters degree in art history in 1997. In the 1990s, she was one of the leading teachers of international student exchanges in her native city, creating culturally engaging programs for participating students and parents.  After moving to U.S., Elena worked at a number of art galleries (including Davidson Galleries in Seattle, WA) before starting her own ceramic business. 

Over the years, Elena has been a feature of the Poulsbo farmers market. She also sells her work through local art galleries and art festivals. She has been an instructor at Eagledale community pottery on Bainbridge Island, WA, since 2014. She also frequently teaches internationally in Europe.