Phyllis grew up in South Jersey and still lives locally with her husband.  She studied pottery at Clay College, Cumberland County College and, after taking classes with Terry Plasket, found a way to work at WheatonArts — she has been Associate Potter since 2006.  She has taught non-credit classes at Clay College and now teaches assorted workshops at WheatonArts.

Known for her face jugs, she also makes functional and decorative work using stoneware and porcelain clays, which are then high fired in reduction, salt, and wood kilns.

Her work has been exhibited in many juried shows and sales, both locally and nationally, including “Facework:  American Ceramic Vessels from the South and the North,” Lehigh University, Main Gallery, Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh, PA, January-May, 2014, curated by Norman Girardot and Ricardo Viera, and in solo exhibits.  Additionally, her work has been included in several designer show homes at the Jersey shore, carried in various galleries, and she had the opportunity to create commissioned face jugs for the opening reception of “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution at WheatonArts in 2011. 

She will often donate her work to causes she supports, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties and GLSEN Southern New Jersey.