At the edge of Northern Kentucky University’s campus, just past the residential village and close to University Suites on Campbell Drive, lies a building that few students have seen inside: the Ceramics and Sculpture Studio. 

Since its opening in 1997, this single-floor structure has become a home for students interested in spatial arts, featuring studio spaces dedicated to everything from wood and metal work to glazing and wheel throwing. Packed with essential tools and equipment, the building is a creative space where students bring their ideas to life.

Benjamin Huber, shop technician and project coordinator, was among the first students to use the facility when it opened. Huber discussed the origins of the ceramics and sculpture programs. 

“Sculpture was offered in the main arts building, and ceramics were in trailers, kind of where the baseball field is now,” Huber said. 

To students, the building is more than just a classroom; it’s a place to cultivate a community.

“It feels like it’s the building that has the most community just because there’s so few people that come here… it’s kind of like “Cheers,” everyone knows your name,” said Olive Pfalz, a senior in integrated media with a focus in ceramics. 

While the building is primarily used by art majors, the Ceramics and Sculpture Studio welcomes students from all disciplines. Many find their way to the building through introductory courses or the Ceramics and Sculpture Society. Kaylee Kirch, a senior majoring in spatial arts, encourages students interested in ceramics to drop by. 

“We do offer classes to all majors, especially if you’re doing a minor [in spatial arts],” Kirch said. “The building is open to anyone who wants to look around and get a feel for the atmosphere. It’s not like it’s closed off.”

Beyond classes, the building offers ample opportunities for students to engage in NKU’s art community. The Ceramics and Sculpture Society meets there regularly, bringing together students across disciplines with an interest in three-dimensional arts. Each Friday at noon, students interested in spatial arts get together and have a pizza party behind the ceramics building. To this day, they use a brick oven that was built by students and staff, said Huber. 

In addition to gathering socially, students can sell their pieces through the club, raising funds to support off-campus art events.

“We do a lot of events away from school,” Kirch said. “We’ve visited past professors and seen installations at their homes. So there’s a lot of opportunity if you’re generally interested in spatial-specific art.”

As the Ceramics and Sculpture Studio continues to be a hub for artistic exploration, students and staff hope its presence on campus will grow, attracting more students to its welcoming atmosphere and resources. Despite its location away from the main campus, the space offers a sense of belonging that’s hard to find elsewhere.

For the students and faculty who call the Ceramics and Sculpture Studio home, it’s more than just a place to work with clay, metal and wood—it’s a community where friendships are formed, skills are honed and creativity is celebrated. 

As Huber puts it, “Students get that sense of community,” and it’s one that continues to grow, one creation at a time.