A native Iowan, Clary Illian received her BFA in 1963 from the University of Iowa. In 1964 and 1965, she apprenticed at Bernard Leach Pottery in Cornwall, England. Since her return in 1966, she has crafted a full-time career as a utilitarian potter. Working from her studio in Ely, Iowa, Illian continues to make pots in addition to teaching in workshops and seminars across North America.