With today’s fast-paced society, we always seem to want to keep moving. We always try to keep up with new trends, go to new places, and find new hobbies.
If you live in the bustling streets of New York, then you would especially know the need always to keep your hands busy. This will not pose a problem, though, because every corner of New York will incite something creative in you. It isn’t a world-renowned destination for art for nothing, right?
Murals, museums and galleries, buskers—truly a vibrant place for creatives alike.
So if you are looking for something creative to do during your free time, or maybe you want to take a breather and step away from the crowds, then why not take a dip into the art of pottery?
Before you panic, don’t worry. You do not have to buy your own potter’s wheel immediately.
If you are just starting or have no experience in pottery, it would be wise to find yourself an expert who will teach you the ropes from the first step. It is also ideal to be in an environment where all the equipment you need is within your reach.
And if you currently reside in Brooklyn, you are in luck because this is the perfect place to discover several well-known pottery studios that offer the best pottery classes in the city.
Hand Building & Wheel Classes at Brooklyn Clay Industries
Brooklyn Clay Industries is a pottery and ceramic studio located in Brooklyn Navy Yard (BNY). It is a place where people of all ages and abilities are encouraged to explore their full creative potential via ceramics and its various methods.
The studio is fully equipped with essential tools, equipment, and materials for students to study and develop their artistic talents in a creative environment.
Brooklyn Clay Industries offers Hand Building classes, a prerequisite class for those who have no experience working with clay. It is a more laid-back class and less intense than working on the pottery wheel.
The studio also offers Wheel classes where skillful artists teach you the basic techniques of creating pottery using a potter’s wheel. They offer classes not only for beginners but also for intermediate and expert individuals.
You can check out their weekly schedule and class offerings here.
Website: https://www.brooklynclayindustries.com/
Address: 63 Flushing Ave. Building 62, Studio 306 Brooklyn, NY 11205
Phone number: (718) 596 – 4029
Ceramic Classes at Choplet Ceramic Studio
Choplet Ceramic Studio is one of the highest-reviewed pottery studios in Brooklyn—and with good reason at that. Their space at Williamsburg Ceramic Center can be accessed 24 hours and is fully equipped with more than 20 wheels and other tools needed for extensive learning.
Their classes consist of a wheel throwing intensive workshop, an 8-week ceramic session for all levels, a one-day trial, and so much more.
Choplet prides itself on having an accessible space for those who want to learn pottery or work on their projects and skills outside class hours.
If you are interested in signing up for one of their classes, then take a look at their calendar here.
Website: https://choplet.com/
Address: 238 Grandstreet Brooklyn, NY 11211
Phone number: 917-547-8316
Wheel Throwing for Beginners at BKLYN CLAY
BKLYN CLAY prides itself as a state-of-the-art ceramic studio that offers membership and classes for all ages and skill levels. The studio offers modern and advanced ceramic technology within a contemporary environment.
The studio offers one-time classes, private lessons, and semester-long classes to cater to the needs of each member. If you are a beginner, their Wheel Throwing class is the perfect match for you.
With no prior knowledge about pottery and ceramics required, students will start from the basics and learn how to work with clay on a potter’s wheel. This course will establish the groundwork for students to create practical ceramics by starting with a lump of clay and end up with a completed pot.
You can take a look at their classes here.
Website: https://www.bklynclay.com/
Address: 535 Carlton Avenue (@Dean Street) Brooklyn, NY, 11238
Phone number: (845) 481-3842
Wheel Throwing and Ceramic Classes at Artshack Brooklyn
Artshack Brooklyn is a non-profit community ceramics studio that offers classes and workshops to people of all ages and abilities. Their mission is to make ceramic arts and pottery more accessible by providing scholarships to the kids they teach, holding regular free community days, and offering low to free classes to those who most need it.
Artshack offers a wide variety of classes starting from the beginner and intermediate levels. Their classes include wheel throwing, hand building, creating ceramics, and more. And yes, they do have separate classes for kids, teens, and adults!
If you are interested in knowing more about their classes, you can look at their calendar here.
Website: http://www.artshackbrooklyn.org
Address: 1127 & 1131 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11216
Phone number: 917 847 0311
Pottery Classes for Kids and Adults at Brooklyn Peoples Pottery
Brooklyn Peoples Pottery focuses on focused learning within an intimate setting as they limit their classes to up to 5 students (for adult classes). This setting is ideal in fostering technique and harnessing each individual’s skills.
Even with the said intimate setup, their studio is fully equipped with wheels, slab rollers, kilns, and other essential tools for learning.
They also offer Kids’ classes wherein they teach hand-building techniques while also informing them about the history of pottery.
You can register for Brooklyn Peoples Pottery’s classes here.
Website: https://www.brooklynpeoplespottery.com/
Address: 603 Bergen Street, Suite #104, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Phone number: 646 283 2006
Final Thoughts
The art of pottery is nowhere near its end. In fact, more people are getting interested in the hobby as time passes by.
The simple process of dirtying your hands with clay and molding something out of nothing can be therapeutic, an outlet for grief, and a form of self-expression—which is precisely what people in today’s age crave.
And as much as it is fulfilling to do and achieve each step by yourself, nothing beats being in an environment with like-minded individuals who share the same hobby as you. Hearing first-hand experiences and expert advice from your teachers is just another bonus!
If you have more classes and pottery studios within Brooklyn that you want to recommend, then feel free to comment below. We’d love to check it out!