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Learn about India's cultural heritage through the timeless craft of pottery and ceramics through these well-known pottery studios.
Pottery, one of the world's oldest crafts, carries with it a legacy dating back thousands of years. From the dawn of civilisation, humans have shaped clay into vessels, art, and architecture. It's a tactile, transformative art that captivates the soul. In today's age, many of us want to experience the magic of holding clay in our hands, moulding it into something that takes on a creative form. Here is a list of some of the best pottery studios in India that will allow you to experiment with clay and explore your creative side.
As one of the oldest pottery studios in India, Andretta Pottery is a studio-cum-school run by Shubham Sankhyan. I had the chance to pursue a 45-minute, hands-on session at the centre. In an immersive setting, participants were taught how to wheel throw, understand and work with ceramic slip, and transform a block of clay into a bowl. Even though I struggled to keep the clay afloat on the pottery wheel, it was a very fun experience. Everyone, including me, was inspired by Sankhyan's clay techniques. I also made time to see the small museum attached to the studio. The museum displayed the works of local artisan potters and a few samples from around the world. For clay enthusiasts, Andretta Pottery also offers a 3-month intensive residential course as well as a 7-day pottery retreat.
If you are ever at the Hilton in Mumbai, look out for ceramic artist Rekha Goyal’s installation titled Ocean & Skyline. And this is only one of the many hotels and homes that are adorned with her work. To make ceramic work more accessible to people at large, she started The Pottery Lab, a quiet and rustic studio in the heart of Bandra. In spite of its location in the bustling Mumbai neighbourhood, the studio offers a rare quietude in a space surrounded by lush trees. Once you are here, you can, like me, opt for a single-session workshop. During the workshop, I learned to make a mug using the traditional hand-building technique. If you’d like a more serious commitment, Goyal also offers long-term pottery courses. At her Wall Art Workshop, participants are taught how to create miniature wall art with different techniques such as coiling, slab building, and pinching.
In the lush farmlands of Raigad, Anvi Pottery felt like an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is run by master ceramist Sandeep Manchekar whose love for clay started at the age of eight. An incredible teacher, Manchekar makes it a point to take every workshop participant through the basics of pottery, helping them create individual ceramic items. During his workshop, I learned pinch-forming, coil-building, and slab-building, and was also introduced to the potter's wheel and glazing. For people with experience in pottery, Anvi Pottery has a 4-month residency, where participants are taught advanced wheel-throwing, kiln firing techniques amongst other things. You can also learn about the traditional wood firing technique that is used by most local ceramists.
At Clayfingers, a studio envisioned by artists Hasseena Suresh and Suresh Subramanian, clay is a way of life. The studio is located in a classic 1950s brick and tile factory in Thrissur. Here, pottery lovers can partake in ceramics workshops and masterclasses in figurative sculpting. The day began with the rhythmic hum of the wheel-throwing machine as participants moulded clay into various forms—from cups to vases—exploring whatever our imaginations could conjure. In the evenings, the atmosphere transformed into a haven for shared experiences. We gathered at the Potters Cafe on campus and indulged in mouth-watering local Kerala cuisine. We stayed at the art cottage on campus that was reminiscent of old Kerala homes, radiating a comforting sense of earthiness and warmth.
A place that got me hooked on to pottery was a small studio located in the bustling market of Delhi’s Nehru Place. The Clay Company is a delightful place. Here, experienced instructors looked after us, pointing us in the right direction every time we struggled to keep pace. The ambience reminded me of a college dorm—music and loud chatter—as a bunch of us tried to find our way around the electric wheel. During my visit, I personally crafted an adorable elephant mug. What's more, they provide excellent flexibility when it comes to class schedules. All these creative pottery studios provide immersive experiences that are sure to rekindle your passion or get you interested in pottery. Personally though, I discovered that the time I spent at these studios, working with clay, was meditative.
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