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Classes that help us channel our creativity are on the rise, and pottery-making is one of the artisan skills we can indulge in, regardless of skill level. Fortunately, Memphis is home to a vibrant pottery scene with several full-service studios — each with its own unique vibe and personality. Check out these three great local options!

Belltower Coffee & Studio

Neighborhood: Highland
More Info: belltowercoffee.com

Located on the Highland Strip, a well-known area of restaurants and businesses for Memphis college students, Belltower Coffee and Studio doubles as a full-service coffee shop and pottery studio. This popular destination features two beautiful cafe spaces — both indoors and outdoors. Gather your friends for coffee after sharing a pottery class. Cafe hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

On the studio side, Belltower takes pride in its diverse clientele; it’s a space where artisans from around Memphis work and throw clay together. The studio is home to 90 local potters, from college students to retirees hoping to perfect a new craft.

A community of people sit and stand around pottery wheels in a classroom-like setting with a colorful Memphis mural on the wall.Pin
“Clay is absolutely magical,” says Belltower’s founder, Micah Dempsey. “The wheel captivates your whole attention, and it really is a perfect escape from the craziness of life.” Image: Memphis Grizzlies Foundation

Belltower offers many opportunities to work with clay. Beginners might try studio weekend classes, a fun introductory experience. Teachers also lead eight-week courses on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for $350. For more experienced potters, Belltower offers memberships with 24/7 access to wheels, workspaces, and other equipment, along with different shelf and kiln space levels.

A person shapes a clay pot on a pottery wheel, wearing a denim apron with their hands covered in clay, inside a workspace filled with pottery tools and finished pieces. Pin
A basic membership ($90 monthly) gets you 7.5 square feet of private shelf space and 1,500 cubic inches of kiln space. The “Hobbyist” level ($165 a month) provides 15 square feet of private shelf space and 3,000 cubic inches of kiln space, and the “Pro” membership ($300 a month) offers 30 square feet of private shelf space and 6,000 cubic inches of kiln space. Image: Micah Dempsey

Summer Avenue Art & Clay

Neighborhood: Summer Avenue
More Info: summeraveartclay.com

A quick drive to Memphis’s famous Summer Avenue reveals a pottery space with its own artisan vibe. Summer Avenue Art and Clay boasts several large workspaces and is an excellent source of materials — in fact, it’s the only pottery studio in the greater Memphis area that sells Laguna clay, glazes, and materials to the public.

A person paints a dog sculpture on a table, using a photo of the same dog on a smartphone for reference. Various painting supplies and paper towels are scattered around.Pin
Summer Avenue Art and Clay is a Xiem Tools USA distributor, carrying a wide variety of tools and offering special access to both Laguna and Xiem Tools USA. Image: Facebook

Kristine, one of Summer Avenue Art and Clay’s talented instructors, tells us, “Working with clay can be very therapeutic and offers endless creative opportunities. Whether you love designing, making, or glazing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Home to a mix of beginner and seasoned potters, Summer Avenue Art and Clay welcomes anyone with a passion for pottery and community — including parties where friends come together with potluck meals and spend an evening enjoying outdoor clay firing. Patrons also have access to two large indoor kilns.

Summer Avenue Art and Clay offers several themed classes, including “Date Night on the Wheel” on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. ($100), “Mug Making Mondays” at 10 a.m. ($65), and an extended, six-week in-depth introduction to pottery, called “Daytime Beginners,” on Tuesday mornings ($250).

Several people participate in a pottery class, sitting at pottery wheels and shaping clay, with focus on a man and woman in the foreground working together on a piece. Pin
Summer Avenue Art and Clay monthly studio memberships include 24/7 access to eight wheels, a slab roller, and other equipment at two levels. The first level ($65 a month) offers access to a half shelf in the weekly kiln firings. The second level ($90 a month) gets you expanded access to one full shelf in the weekly kiln firings. Both membership levels include a 25% discount on clay. Image: Facebook

Seize The Clay

Neighborhood: East Memphis
More Info: seizetheclay.net

Nestled in Chickasaw Oaks Village, Seize the Clay is a little piece of nostalgia — a way to unplug and detach from the modern stresses of life. This studio features a collection of ready-to-paint ceramic pieces and hands-on classes on the pottery wheel. What sets Seize the Clay apart is owner Adam Loeffel’s passion for vintage ceramic forms.

A Memphis native and vintage ceramics connoisseur, Adam has curated a haven for everyone from experienced potters to families. Adam scours the country, collecting original ceramic molds. Think classic Christmas trees with colored bulbs, angelic ornaments, and more. Adam’s love for ceramics was passed down from his mom, and his childhood was filled with projects they did together.

A hand holds a round, ceramic plate from the Memphis Pottery Community, featuring a painted design of multiple red and orange peaches with green leaves on a pale pink background.Pin
Classes are designed for ages 16 and older, ranging from 45-minute beginner classes to more in-depth two-and-a-half-hour lessons. They are offered at various times on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Image: Facebook

If you are looking for a class for younger students, you can email or call the studio to discuss options that fit your child. In addition to ceramics and clay making, Seize the Clay offers glass fusing and take-home projects. Whether you’re getting ready for a party or a cozy evening at home, Seize the Clay has you covered. There’s a spacious party room for corporate events and children’s birthday parties, and they can bring the party to you with an on-location painting party.

Two people in aprons are working together on a pottery wheel, shaping a clay pot. One person is wearing a green shirt and the other a white shirt. Their hands are covered in clay.Pin
Seize the Clay is active in the community, offering lessons for senior citizens and students through schools and local non-profits like Creative Aging Mid-South and Oasis of Hope. Image: Facebook

Now, get out and channel that creativity!

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Author: Nina McCarver
About the Author
Nina McCarver

Born and raised in Mississippi, devoted Memphian since 2004. I love to take the road less traveled and find new paths along the way. Blessed to be married to the love of my life and best friend Shawn with four of the most amazing children ever. Our adventures are never ceasing.