The Throw Clay LA Team - Meet our Studio Staff
John Prescott
Owner and Studio Manager
Founder of Throw Clay LA, John created the studio with a vision of building a welcoming, creative clay community in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.
Born in California and raised in Portland, Oregon, John has been working with clay for more than 14 years and teaching for over 12. As owner and studio manager, he focuses on fostering an environment where artists of all experience levels feel comfortable exploring, learning, and creating together.
In his own work, John is drawn to large wheel-thrown forms and surface texture, often exploring the relationship between structure, scale, and touch.
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Ambar Arias
Instructor
Born and raised in Koreatown, Los Angeles, Ambar Arias is a ceramic artist and educator with nearly a decade of experience working in clay. After discovering wheel throwing at a small neighborhood studio, she immersed herself in the medium through dedicated practice and began teaching early in her ceramics journey. Returning to Throw Clay LA with expanded experience, Ambar is passionate about sharing technical knowledge in a clear, accessible, and encouraging way.
Her work centers on functional pottery that incorporates political and social themes, exploring topics including racism, feminism, and police misconduct. Through her ceramics practice, she seeks to spark conversation, encourage reflection, and foster community. While wheel throwing remains her primary focus, she continues to expand her practice through handbuilding and other ceramic processes.
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Aidan Flynn
Instructor
Aidan Marie Flynn is a ceramic artist, printmaker, and self-described jack-of-all-trades from Northern Michigan. She earned her BFA in Printmaking from Pratt Institute in 2022 and often combines handbuilding, wheel throwing, mold-making, and printmaking techniques in her ceramic work.
At Throw Clay LA, Aidan teaches both one-time experiences and 6-week courses. She enjoys helping students solve problems, overcome creative challenges, and discover new possibilities in clay.
Claudia Gravano
Studio Technician
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Claudia first fell in love with ceramics in high school. She continued her ceramics journey through college, where she studied Film and Media as well as Studio Arts.
Claudia loves the sense of community that ceramics creates and enjoys seeing other artists discover and grow within the craft. While she primarily works on the pottery wheel, she is always exploring new techniques and approaches to incorporate into her work.
As a member of the Throw Clay LA team, Claudia enjoys helping support the creative environment that makes the studio such a special place to learn and make.
Bailey Walters
Supervisor, Instructor
Originally from Camarillo, California, Bailey has been immersed in ceramics for over a decade. She developed a deep appreciation for clay and its community after experiencing the lively annual Holiday Sale at Moorpark Community College. After several years studying wheel throwing and handbuilding at Moorpark, Bailey transferred to Cal State Long Beach, where she earned her BFA in Ceramics in 2020.
Bailey's artistic practice centers on sculpture and handbuilt forms that explore images, memories, and scenes of home. At Throw Clay LA, she played a key role in developing the studio's handbuilding curriculum and now leads many of its handbuilding courses. Her thoughtful approach and enthusiasm for the craft help students build both technical skills and creative confidence.
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Danny Bruckbauer
Instructor
Danny hails from Fargo, North Dakota, where his interest in ceramics began in high school. He went on to study at St. John's University in Minnesota and has since built a practice that combines teaching, making, and pushing the limits of what clay can do.
At Throw Clay LA, Danny teaches students of all experience levels, from beginner wheel classes to advanced courses such as The Cup: Design & Refine and Throwing Big.
Danny's work explores the boundaries of the ceramic medium, asking questions such as: How thin can a piece be made? How much clay can one person throw? His current body of work reimagines familiar and often overlooked subjects, including rusty tin cans, passing clouds, and everyday figures.
In addition to teaching and maintaining his studio practice, Danny is the founder of Ellery Stoneware, a dinnerware and décor company named in honor of his late grandfather. Through the company, he collaborates with chefs and restaurants to create custom ceramic pieces that elevate the dining experience.
Peiwen Gao
Instructor
Born and raised in Beijing, China, Peiwen Gao now calls both Beijing and Gainesville, Florida home. With a background in science and a passion for the arts, she has long balanced creative pursuits with scientific inquiry.
After discovering ceramics through a handbuilding class in college, Peiwen fell in love with the medium and has continued to explore it alongside her photography practice. She enjoys both wheel throwing and handbuilding, creating functional work that reflects a thoughtful and intentional approach to making.
An avid surfer and skater, Peiwen draws inspiration from movement, balance, and the natural world. Now based in Los Angeles, she looks forward to exploring how the city's energy and creative spirit influence her evolving artistic practice.
Arabella Vida
Instructor
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Arabella is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative practice spans ceramics, sculpture, and tattooing. She studied art both locally and abroad before attending special effects makeup school, where she further developed her interest in three-dimensional form and surface design.
After graduating, Arabella pursued her passions in both sculpture and body art. Today, she divides her time between teaching pottery at Throw Clay LA and working as an independent tattoo artist.
Drawing inspiration from ancient Greco-Roman imagery, Arabella explores the connections between the human body and ceramic vessels. Across multiple mediums, her work examines the ways we adorn, decorate, and tell stories through both.