Best of Philly

Best Pottery

2023 Best Artsy Classes

Black Hound Clay Studio

Bethany Rusen, founder and director of this inclusive pottery studio, says ceramics saved her life, adding, “I’m hoping I can pass that experience on to other people.” Black Hound offers affordable space to artists and sliding-scale pricing for workshops. If you just want to drop in, you can create a functional piece of art like a mug or planter in about two hours. More ambitious? Try an eight-week session in wheel-throwing ceramics. Up next: A second location is coming this fall to Point Breeze. Read More »

715 South 50th Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2022 Best Way to Get Your Hands Dirty

The Clay Studio

When the Clay Studio moved from its longtime Old City home to a new four-story facility in South Kensington, it didn’t just expand its footprint. With gallery shows, free community Saturday art workshops, kids’ summer camps and adult classes, plus way more studio space and pottery wheels, there are now more opportunities for all of us to muck up our mitts. Read More »

1425 North American Street, Philadelphia, PA Website

2021 Best Clay to the Max

Cloud 9 Clay

Peyton Flynn is something of a ceramics legend in Philly, making vibrant home and kitchen wares for brands like Madewell. Add her extra-shiny vases with squiggly handles to your collection to give your house an instant mood boost. Read More »

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2021 Best Potter in a Crazy-Hot Pottery Scene

Roberto Lugo

No less an authority than Vogue shouted out the Elkins Park/Temple ceramicist/activist in December. Lugo, who calls himself the “ghetto potter,” creates fine-art ceramics, notably a Kamala Harris teapot and urns honoring AOC and Kobe Bryant. His work sits in galleries and museums (includingvw PMA) and goes for big bucks to private collectors. Read More »

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