Collection: Ceramic Hammer

Merenda Cecelia lives and works in Richmond, Virginia.

She is an artist and state-certified art educator with extensive experience in ceramic and mosaic work.

She has taught for 18 years in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and The Visual Arts Center of Richmond.

Merenda graduated with a BFA in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has facilitated interior and exterior mosaic tile murals through residencies in schools and local arts organizations, and serves on the Teaching Artist Roster with the Virginia Commission of the Arts.

She is currently teaching youth and adult classes at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond, as well as drawing at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. You can find her ceramic work on local shops and galleries.

Merenda spent her childhood in a tight knit community in rural Virginia, raised by a single mom who built houses for a living. Growing up surrounded by the forest gave her a sincere connection with the natural world of the Eastern Woodlands.

Spending time on farms and among builders fostered an appreciation of craftsmanship and the ability to use your hands. Through teaching, she hopes to help her students gain some of the growth, satisfaction, and confidence found in the creative process.