About
Ubuntu Ceramics is a Black woman-owned community ceramics studio that focuses on peer learning, relationship building, and radical togetherness. We hope to celebrate craft cultures from the Global Majority in our programming and curation of the space; to reconnect to pottery’s cultural, historical, and communal roots; and to reclaim ceramics as a liberatory art form.
“Ubuntu” is Zulu /Xhosa for “Humanity” or loosely translated “I am because You Are”. It comes from the Zulu proverb “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, meaning “a person is a person through other people”.
Pronounced “oo-BOON-too”, it is the interconnectedness of individuals with our surrounding societal and physical worlds, or the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity.
Our teaching philosophy follows the spirit of Ubuntu. We see teaching as being in community and working alongside each other. It is not about prescribing a set way of doing things, instead it is creating a space for knowledge exchange, exploration, discovery and inspiration. Ubuntu focuses on togetherness and collaborative development of the whole community through intra and intergenerational learning.
Our programming aims to reflect and center our Black neighbors across generations, and to provide a nurturing environment where students can unleash their creativity.
Who we are
We are a group of ceramicists who met through a studio and together have 40 years of cumulative experience in teaching ceramics, building accessible educational programming, and managing a studio.
We came together because we strongly believe in the importance of clay and other crafts in healing, celebrating, and empowering communities of color.
Olu Babalola
Founder and owner
Olu Babalola is a former management executive turned ceramicist. She is a self-taught sculptor who works primarily in clay creating sculptures that celebrate black female beauty and identity.
Quinn McNeill
Advisor and arts professional
Quinn McNeill is a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist, educator, and arts professional whose work bridges craft, community, and care. She currently serves as Head of Programming & Instruction at Hey Clay, a new community ceramics studio in Gowanus, where she designs inclusive, process-driven programs and supports a growing team of teaching artists.
Lam Thuy Vo
Advisor and ceramics educator
Lam Thuy Vo is a ceramicist and pottery instructor who has created and taught numerous classes, including introductory and intermediate wheel-throwing classes, programming for adults with intellectual disabilities and specialized workshops on wood firing, dinnerware and lamp making.
