He studied ceramics at Arizona State in the 1970’s. After graduation, he developed his first studio in an old tobacco barn in an artist community on 300 acres in the hills of northern Tennessee. He was a dedicated student of the art form and produced functional pottery for a diverse range of markets for over eight years.

He left the art world and joined corporate America, where he spent most of his career in the software and alternative energy industries in senior marketing and sales positions for over 25 years. In 2012, he jumped back into ceramics with both feet, starting the Earth and Fire Ceramic Design Studio. He is also the President of the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition, which presents the Sedona Open Studio Tours on the last weekend of April, as well as a member of the board of the Sedona Arts Festival.

"I am passionate about producing art that people will want to use every day. In particular, glazes fascinate me. I love to experiment and develop new glazes and combinations as well as share this knowledge with students during my workshops." - Mike Upp