Michele Vento

Native to Milwaukee, WI and a Retired Veteran of the US Army Reserves, Michele Vento has earned two Bachelor of Fine Art degrees from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. The first (2000) led her to teach art in the Milwaukee Public School system, but overseas deployments to Iraq (2003) and Afghanistan (2006) became the catalyst to her second BFA (2012), this time focusing on ceramics.

It was during this time that Michele was introduced to the anagama at the UW Field Station near Waterville. She was instantly hooked on the labor intensive process of firing the kiln and the effect this type of atmospheric firing had on the ceramic work inside. Michele Vento is now the Continuing Education instructor for the Spring Ceramics Wood-fire course through UWM at Waukesha.

She has spent the last ten years traveling locally, nationally and internationally to wood-firing workshops and conferences to fire and even build different styles of wood kilns. Learning from those artists who also share in the love of this firing process is energizing to Michele, and while she will enthusiastically share her experiences, stories and knowledge, she is always in the pursuit of more.