Sari Gantzel was born in State College, Pennsylvania and earned her BS at UCLA. Her life as a potter began in the 1960's with classes at the La Jolla Museum of Art under Rhoda Lopez and Clark Rost. Further classes and inspiration came from classes with Lana Wilson at Mesa College, the UCSD Crafts Center with Ron Carlson, as well as many workshops. She now works at home in her garden studio.

   Sari's ceramic style has evolved from mainly wheel thrown functional ware to her current sculptural, non-functional work. Her interest now lies in experimenting with different temperatures, glazes and firing techniques. Nature is a constant source of inspiration, especially the colors, textures and shapes of rocks, lichen and fish. The art of design of other cultures, experiences in travel, have also influenced her work.

   Sari sees working in clay as an endless process of searching for new glazes, forms and techniques.

In the Spring of 2000, Sari took time off from pottery to cycle with a group of women from coast to coast for three months, covering 4,200 miles on a circuitous route from Virginia to Oregon, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.