Our Mission

Clay Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the ceramic arts for artists, learners, and the community through education, exhibitions, retail opportunities, and artist services

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   Connecting People Through Clay

Our Stakeholders

We aim to reach a wide variety of people with our offerings. Our largest pool of stakeholders is the general public—pottery lovers, pottery collectors, and the clay-curious. Our second largest target audience is students just starting out in clay, and the third largest is emerging artists who wish to advance their careers, strengthen their studio practice, and make professional connections. The smallest (but no less important!) group of stakeholders is made up of professional potters who are already well established in their own studios, but still want to build community and share resources.

Each of these groups have different needs and interests in the world of ceramics. We hope to provide a multitude of resources and opportunities to connect through clay for everyone, no matter what level of skill or experience you may have.

For buyers and collectors, we want you to find your next favorite potter — and then the one after that. The cereal bowl that makes breakfast feel like something special. The vase made for flowers from your own garden. The serving piece that comes out every time you have people over. The sculpture that earns its spot. We want every mug in your cupboard to have a name behind it, and we want you to know exactly where to get more.

For artists in Pittsburgh, we want to help make ceramics a sustainable way of life — not just a passion you have to subsidize with something else. That means building a strong community with real resources, and real opportunities to connect your work with the people who will love it.

For Emerging Artists, if you’re transitioning out of a classroom setting and need firing services, shared space, or access to equipment, Clay Pittsburgh wants to help make that happen. 

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Calendar

TitleDate
Pittsburgh Potters Tour Application1780747200 Jun 6, 2026 - Jun 27, 2026
Pittsburgh Potters Tour1795262400 Nov 21, 2026 - Nov 22, 2026
Exhibition HOME in Carnegie, PA1781352000 Jun 13, 2026 - Aug 9, 2026

Core Values

  • Ceramic art has been an essential part of human culture and daily life throughout history, and it must continue to play that role in the future.
  • Whether a ceramic object is a simple functional bowl or a purely decorative work of art, it can hold deep personal meaning and occupy a special place in our lives. Through creating, using, and living with handmade objects, we enrich our own experiences and strengthen our connection to creativity.
  • The relationships formed between ceramic artists, collectors, and those who use ceramic objects enhance both the appreciation and value of the work. These connections help sustain a vibrant and engaged clay community.
  • Both professional and amateur ceramic artists deserve opportunities to learn, grow, exhibit, and share their work. The science, craft, and artistic traditions of ceramics must be taught, practiced, and passed on to future generations so that this rich and enduring art form continues to flourish.

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Mimbres Burial Bowl

The Mimbres people lived in what is now southwestern New Mexico between about 850 and 1150 CE. They are famous for their striking black-on-white pottery, especially bowls decorated with intricate images of animals, people, plants, hunting scenes, and geometric patterns.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Mimbres pottery is its use in burials:

  • When a person died, a decorated bowl was often placed over the face of the deceased.
  • Many of these bowls had a small hole intentionally punched through the center before burial. Archaeologists call these “kill holes.”
  • Some researchers believe the hole symbolically released the spirit