Create, Connect & Get a Little Messy at This Memphis Pottery Studio
There's something special about gathering around the table and creating something with your own two hands. At Seize the Clay, creativity and connection come together for an experience that's as much about spending time with others as it is about what you create. Image: Rachel Mullen
Recently, I hosted a networking gathering at Seize the Clay. Guests had the opportunity to come together and enjoy an experience where conversation flowed naturally while everyone was busy creating. With clay in your hands and a little room to play, there’s no pressure to be perfect.
A Memphis Creative Tradition
Seize the Clay has been a part of the Memphis community since 1997. The studio is nestled in Chickasaw Oaks Shopping Center and is the only paint-your-own-pottery studio in the Memphis area. The owner, Adam Loeffel, studied ceramics at the University of Memphis and uses his expertise to guide guests through the process in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
The energy at a Seize the Clay gathering is undeniably fun. For many attendees, a networking event like this one marks their first time creating art, which turns out to be the perfect icebreaker. “I think it helps people relax and go with the flow, even those who think they’re going to be terrible at this,” Adam shares. “Everybody’s on the same page. You don’t get caught up in your piece being the best or the worst. Everybody just has a good time.”
Since the studio opened its doors an impressive three decades ago, its lively group dynamic has grown substantially. “When I came to Seize the Clay in 2001, we didn’t really have many groups like this, but over the years it has just organically come into being,” Adam notes. “It brings so much life into the studio, and I can’t imagine it any other way.”
Choosing where to host a get-together is a big decision, and Adam doesn’t take the community’s ongoing support lightly. “It is such an honor, because we know there are other places you could be,” he says.
At the end of the day, his goal for every group that walks through the door is refreshingly simple: “I just want people to have fun. That’s it — nothing mysterious. Just a really good time hanging out with friends, having some snacks, and having a cool little pottery piece to carry home to remind you of the time spent together.”
Workshops + Events for Every Age
Adults
Seize the Clay offers a variety of pottery experiences for adults of all skill levels.
- Team Building Workshops: on and off-site availability
- Classes: Pottery Making, Glass Fusing & Pottery Painting
- Networking Events
- Holiday Parties
- Book Clubs
- Date Nights
Kids
Seize the Clay offers workshops and pottery experiences for children.
- Birthday Parties
- Holiday Parties
- Family Nights
- Kids’ Workshops
Connection through Creativity
Activities can make socializing feel so much easier. When you’re doing something together, the activity gives everyone a natural place to focus. Sharing an experience and laughing over your creations helps create lasting memories. It gives people an opportunity to be present, put their phones down, and engage with the people around them. That’s what makes Seize the Clay such a fun way to gather.
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Rachel Mullen
Born and raised in Memphis, Rachel is a third-generation Memphian, professionally trained pastry chef, and owner of Primas Bakery. As StyleBlueprint’s Memphis Market Leader, she is passionate about highlighting the people, places, and stories that make the Bluff City special, with a focus on community, culinary experiences, and meaningful connections.
