Joy Hanford, originally from Bloomington, Indiana, moved to Portugal in the fall of 2010. She met her Portuguese husband while he was a Fulbright scholar pursuing his doctorate at Indiana University. Their journey took them first to Setúbal, then north to Guimarães in 2012 when he accepted a teaching position at the University of Minho. After working with the European Space Agency in Madrid, he now teaches at the University of Porto, adding a scientific touch to their shared interests.
Living less than ten minutes from the historic center of Guimarães, Hanford prefers walking over driving, often passing by the city’s famous castle. She embraces the charm of the region, immersing herself in its rich history and cultural offerings.
Her passion for art and creative spaces led her to establish Atelier Retiro in 2020. Specializing in pottery, the studio provides residencies that allow individuals to focus on artistic exploration without daily distractions. Residencies range from two weeks to a month, offering an opportunity for deep engagement with a subject of interest. As someone who previously moved between residencies across the United States, she understands the value of dedicated creative time and now extends that experience to others.
The studio operates as a community pottery space with programs as short as three hours and structured multi-week courses during the summer. Membership provides access to the kiln, and professionals or intermediate artists can use the space for a flat fee. Private lessons are available, and materials for projects can be sourced through the studio. Open to individuals aged twelve and older, the focus remains on serious ceramic work rather than casual gatherings or children’s events. The typical residency participants range from their late forties to seventies, often individuals with both the financial means and the time to dedicate to the craft. Many seek academic credit, which the studio does not offer.
Visitors come from Porto, the Netherlands, and even the United States. Some have relocated to Guimarães specifically to join the pottery community. Upon arrival, newcomers are introduced to Jupiter, a historic hat and umbrella shop that has been operating for over a century. The city experiences more rainfall than expected, a fact often discovered firsthand by those wandering its streets.
Diogo and Inês, now key members of the Atelier Retiro team, joined in 2024 when international funding allowed Hanford to expand operations. When the funding ended abruptly six months later, she faced a difficult decision about the studio’s future. Rather than closing, she restructured the space, shifting from a community pottery studio to an internationally recognized residency program. Seeking advice from both local and global communities, she found support and used personal savings to sustain the venture. Within six weeks, the program flourished.
Initially, the first scholarship residency was planned for 2028, but the timeline accelerated significantly. Now, seven full scholarships are available for emerging Portuguese artists, establishing one of the largest privately funded art residency programs in the country.
Beyond her work, Hanford remains engaged in various artistic pursuits, from drawing and painting to sculpture and casting. She is an avid reader, delighted by the arrival of Rosebud Bookshop in Porto, and enjoys writing novels and children’s books. Guimarães offers a wealth of cultural events, from jazz festivals to contemporary art and dance performances, all of which she embraces.
For her, the essence of pottery lies in its ability to quiet the mind. The act of shaping clay allows the noise of daily life to fade, creating a space of calm and focus. Inviting others to experience the same, she encourages them to take a “Claycation” and immerse themselves in the craft.
