Our Story
Michelle and Jen first met when Michelle sought Jen’s expertise in acupuncture. Their relationship blossomed when Michelle expressed interest in pottery classes, unaware that Jen was a pottery instructor. After becoming Jen’s student, Michelle fell in love with ceramics and realized the high demand for a studio with 24/7 access in the Twin Cities. Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit, Michelle proposed opening a studio closer to home. Although hesitant at first, Jen was eventually won over by the perfect studio space and Michelle’s enthusiasm. When they met Ralph, who brought the technical and industry knowledge they lacked, the three of them built Forma as an innovative and fun pottery studio. This serendipitous journey led to the creation of Forma, a shared pottery studio that fosters a community of curiosity, kindness, and creativity.
The Owners
Jen
Jen Noetzli (she/her) has been teaching pottery since 2008 in the Twin Cities, and runs a successful acupuncture practice less than one mile from Forma. Jen has longed for her own studio, where she can continue learning, teaching and building community. Her enthusiastic and kind teaching style has ignited a pottery passion in so many people over the years.
Michelle
Michelle Horovitz (she/her) is a social entrepreneur and recovering public defender. She reconnected with her lost love of ceramics after a 20+ year hiatus, and has been taking Jen’s classes for many years. A lazy, hobbyist potter, Michelle was excited to join Jen in bringing this dream to reality in a beautiful space close to home.
Ralph
Ralph Nuara (he/him) is a professional potter, originally from Brooklyn, NY; has been potting for 20+ yrs, and teaching for 15. After working as a home furnishings designer & buyer, he travelled across the US studying ceramics in Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Illinois, then settled in Mpls. Ralph has continually explored the relationships between function, form and surface to keep his work fresh and practice in the studio challenging.