Although trained as a studio-based artist (Ohio State University) she is also a curator, critic and author.

Her doctoral dissertation (in the early 80’s) identified the use of satire in the ceramic work of Robert Arneson, Howard Kottler, and David Gilhooly. Since then, she has expanded her interest to identify an international movement of artists who use clay confrontationally - more specifically, those artists who employ clay to reveal personal alienations, social and political struggles, popular and material culture at its worst - all within the context of what might be called art activism.

Dr. Schwartz lectures extensively and has published numerous journal articles, artist’s reviews and catalogs for both national and international journals. She juries worldwide and most recently served as head juror to the World Ceramic Exposition Foundation (WOCEF) in Korea. While her first craft journey to China was in 1978 she has returned many times to various locations and is associated with the Jingdezhen Sanbao Ceramic Art Institute.

She has presented lectures at 9 separate NCECA meetings.

She was Educational Consultant to the Lenox China Company, President of the University Council for Art Education, President of The Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, serves on the Board of Studio Potter, The K12 Ceramic Art Foundation, the Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred University and is an elected member of the International Academy of Ceramics.

She received the JD Rockefeller III grant in Art Education and the Everson Museum’s award for service and excellence in the field of ceramic education. She chaired two national conferences: The Case for Clay in Secondary Education and Criticism in the Craft Arts: Crossings, Alignments and Territories - both at New York University.

She has curated numerous exhibitions - most notably:

New York, New York: Clay

Form and Transformations: Ceramics, Art to Industry

Confrontational Clay

Clay (Mates)Spatial Meditations

Confrontational Ceramics

She recently completed the book Confrontational Ceramics, published simultaneously by A&C Black Publishing, London, and the University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. The book is an international survey of the contemporary use of clay as a tool for social commentary.

She is President of the newly established Museum of Ceramic Art to be located in Long Island City, New York and was a trustee of the Howard Kottler estate, facilitating the publication of two books about him and several national exhibitions of his work.

Finally, in the Fall of 2008, the Westchester Council for the Arts offered a six-week celebration of clay called All Fired Up! Diverse shows and educational events focusing on the many aspects of the medium were held at 67 cultural institutions in the county. Dr. Schwartz functioned as Lead Consultant and, in addition, ran a Ceramics Institute for Teachers and curated two exhibitions.