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.

 

Core Values

  • The ceramic arts are intrinsic to the human experience, while reflecting diverse cultural traditions.
  • Every individual benefits from exposure to a wide variety of ceramic art that is beautiful, evocative, challenging, or innovative.
  • The ceramic arts are advanced through the exploration of the full spectrum of the art and science of clay.
  • The field of ceramics is enriched by a mutual exchange of active curiosity, dialogue, and learning through diverse partnerships.
  • Professional ceramic artists need to be nurtured, cultivated, and supported in order to both advance the greater field of the ceramic arts and enrich our local community.
  • Clay learners deserve the best educational opportunities appropriate to their learning level.
  • All communities deserve access to our programs and services, delivered in a genuine and welcoming environment.
  • Honesty, integrity, and respect form the cornerstone of our culture.

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.

Essential Connections

Studio Tours

We want to help build relationships between local ceramic artists and the people who love and collect ceramic art. 

We want buyers to find the perfect object to enrich their daily life—the cereal bowl that makes breakfast special, the perfect vase for flowers from your garden, the perfect serving piece for the special hors d’oeuvres you love to make, or the perfect sculpture. We want consumers to be able to associate all the mugs in their cupboard with the person who made them, and know where to get more.

For artists  in Pittsburgh, we want to help make ceramics a sustainable way of life by building a strong community with resources to help you, and opportunities to connect you with the buying public.

Emerging Artists

If you want to partner with a host studio and be part of the tour, click here.

Additionally, if you are are seeking to transition from classroom to a studio, or need firing services, shared space, access to equipment, etc., Clay Pittsburgh’s goal is to facilitate that. But first we need to find about you and your needs and goals. So click here.

2024 Pittsburgh Potters Tour®

On November 9th & 10th from 11am-5pm, Pittsburgh ceramic artists opened their studios to allow the public to see behind the scenes, appreciate their creative process, and explore the immense variety and creativity exhibited by Pittsburgh’s ceramics community. The Pittsburgh Potters Tour is always free and open to the public.

2025 Pittsburgh Potters Tour

We are currently in the process of planning the next installment of the Potters Tour. Stay tuned by checking the website regularly, and by following us on Instagram.

Artist Services

We are planning tours, workshops, exhibitions, and networking opportunities to benefit local ceramic artists. Read More

Donors & Sponsors

We thank our individual contributors, foundations, sponsors, the Pittsburgh ceramics community, and all our local neighborhoods for making this event possible. Your donations support emerging and established artists while connecting Pittsburghers through clay.

Clay Pittsburgh

Mailing address: 2813 Cobden Street, Pittsburgh PA 15203

Phone: 412-952-1340

email: [email protected]

President: Bennett Graves
Vice President: Felice Cutruzzula
Secretary: Katy Leach
Treasurer: Daniel Vito

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