Whether you’re picking up a new hobby, planning a gathering with a creative edge or you need a space to wheel throw, there are lots of interesting pottery places popping up around Dublin …
Throwing Shapes, Mill Street, Dublin 8
Throwing Shapes is Ireland’s first open-access community ceramic studio. It had its official opening earlier this month and the team behind it are ready to welcome anyone and everyone who is interested in pottery. Owner Siofra Murdock found herself stuck with nowhere to practise her pottery and ended up investing in a wheel for her kitchen. She knew a space like this was needed in Dublin, “a space to make creativity accessible to everyone.” At Throwing Shapes, there are studio memberships available for those who are more experienced, as well as classes and special events for anyone who would like to give pottery a go and improve their skills.
A membership at Throwing Shapes means you have access to the studio seven days a week, use of all of the tools, your own shelf, and access to regular studio markets to sell your work. Not only this but you can get exclusive access to masterclasses from guest potters.
The classes available are for everyone from beginners to more experienced potters aged over 18. Classes are generally three hours long or you can sign up to one spanning over five weeks. The passionate teachers cover both hand-building and wheel throwing techniques. A tip for beginners is to start with the hand building class and get to grips with it that way. Find out more here; www.throwingshapes.ie. @throwingshapes__
Dublin Pottery Painting, Queen Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7
The Dublin Pottery Painting studio in Smithfield is a great spot for private events or for those looking to do something fun and unique with friends. With access to pottery pieces of all types, shapes and sizes, all you have to do is let your creative juices flow and have fun painting your chosen piece. Open for bookings seven days a week, the venue is BYOB so you can bring your own drinks and food or order from local businesses to really get the most out of the experience. The team will fire and glaze your creation and you can collect it when it is ready. Even the self-proclaimed ‘un-artistic’ friends will get a lot out of it – it will surprise you how focused and silent everyone can be once they get started! www.dublinpottery.com @potterydublin
Arran Street East, Arran Street East, Dublin 1 & Main Street, Schull, Co Cork
Voted one of THE GLOSS Best Shops 2023, award-winning Dublin pottery and weaving shop/studio Arran Street East is owned by Laura Magahy. It offers a unique first-hand experience in the production of ceramic goods. Customers can view pots being thrown, glazed, and fired, and textile looms in action. Arran Street Dublin workshops are unfortunately coming to a close after this summer so make sure to book in ASAP. They offer workshops and courses for potters of all levels, from a pottery wheel throwing workshop to a ‘Clay Get-together’ for a group. And, of course, there is the full range of Arran Street East’s gorgeous ceramics and textiles for sale. www.arranstreeteast.ie Stay updated; @arranstreeteast
KaroArt Ceramics, 404 South Circular Road, Dublin 8
KaroArt is a small ceramics studio based in Dublin 8, that welcomes private and corporate lessons for cup making pottery classes and hand-building and decorating pottery classes for people of all levels. It was established by Karolina Grudniewska, a self-taught ceramicist, whose hand-painted ceramic works are for sale in the studio. The ceramics act as canvases for her beautiful illustrations and whimsical creations. Karo will guide you at the beginning of your class and then let you relax, focus and enjoy the ‘hands-on’ task in front of you – something we don’t let ourselves do very often. www.karoart.eu @karoartceramics
Brookwood Pottery, 3 Marino Mart, Marino, Dublin 3
Established in a former post office by potter Elaine Fallon, Brookwood Pottery is a shop and pottery studio featuring Elaine’s pottery and the textiles, print, homeware and jewellery of over 40 craftspeople that Elaine admires. Also voted as one of THE GLOSS Best Shops 2023, the studio offers one-day adult pottery classes for small groups every Saturday from 10-4pm. www.brookwoodpottery.com @brookwood_pottery
This Must Be The Place, 51 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
This is a new creative hub in the centre of Dublin for anyone who is looking to meet new people, put the phone down and get creating. This Must Be The Place offers a clay and coffee workshop, which does what it says on the tin – and a paint your own mug workshop for getting creative and making something you can use and enjoy at home. The space is also available to hire for private events. www.thismustbetheplacedublin.com @thismustbetheplacedublin