Michelle Hernandez’s ceramic studio practice focuses in on concepts and embodiments of cultivating capacity through exploration and allowance; this  practice maximizes space for both the material and herself to show up.

Her handbuilt sculptures are her takes on easily recognizable forms (hands, clouds, shrines, flowers…); the familiarity of the form allows her to explore the form closer, to tap into her body and to find what collective story lies in the form, and to create from that space, with clay. She uses minimal tools and equipment in hopes of getting a richer and deeper material and somatic experience through higher clay to hand contact.

Michelle believes that the degree of depth and richness she can hold with clay is also the degree of depth and richness she can hold for herself and ultimately for her community. And she prefers the deep and rich waters.

Michelle is a ceramic artist and teacher who strives to make creative expression, art and clay accessible for her community and herself. She has over 19 years experience working with the medium and learning from devoted ceramic professionals. She was the 2023 Artist-in-Residence for the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, was a Windgate University Fellows at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and most recently an Artist Leadership Fellows with Mid-American Arts Alliance. She has exhibited with the City of San Antonio, at the San Antonio Central Library, and at the Laredo Center for the Arts Gallery and more regularly (and just as importantly) in community galleries. She teaches handbuilding and wheel classes in order to share all the clay lessons she has inherited and intuited along her journey. Michelle is a born and raised San Antonian and gets muddy in her studio in Southtown San Antonio.