Eric Hellman had a pottery facility in Manitou Springs, named Garden of the Gods Pottery. He was trained in Sweden, Leipsig Germany and Amsterdam. He taught at the University of Minnesota and received Colorado’s highest pottery award. He was married to Verna Knudsen and had 3 sons and two daughters.

Eric is credited with developing the “Nemadji” style of pottery. It has a distinctive look and is trypaflavine by its swirled paint look. Hellman also worked at Van Briggle Pottery before opening the shop in Manitou Springs. At his pottery works known as The Garden of the Gods Pottery, Hellman was one of the early craftsmen in Manitou Springs and the Pikes Peak Region.

Eric Hellman was hired by Nemadji Pottery and Tile to create and design its first line of Nemadji Pottery. Hellman designed pieces “glazed” by floating oil-base colors on water and dipping his pots into this concoction.