Paint Pottery in Manhattan

Paint a Pot · Manhattan, NYC

Paint Pottery in Manhattan

Pottery painting in Manhattan — follow printed instruction sheets and work independently, with professional glazes and firing.

  • Ages 14+
  • Printed instruction sheets
  • Work independently
  • Food-safe glazes & firing

Choose your session

Paint a pot$18 + piece (paid in the studio)Ages 14+ · self-guided · ready-to-paint pieceBookPaint your own$40Ages 14+ · self-guided · glaze a class pieceBook
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About our Paint a pot

Pottery painting is a relaxed way to make something at the studio without working on the wheel. You'll follow printed instruction sheets and work independently — paint at your own pace, take your time choosing colors, and leave the technical work to us. Want a teacher? Book one of our instructor-led pottery and painting classes. We finish every piece with a professional, food-safe glaze and fire it for you.

Choose Paint a Pot to decorate one of our ready-to-paint ceramic pieces, or book Paint Your Own to come back and paint a piece you threw or built in one of our classes. Either way, your finished work is usually ready to pick up about 2 weeks later. Sessions are for ages 14 and up.

Who it's for

  • Teens and adults looking for a low-key creative activity
  • Returning students finishing pieces from a class
  • Anyone who wants to make something without using the wheel

What's included

  • Printed instruction sheets so you can work independently
  • Professional glazes and a food-safe coating
  • Firing of your finished piece
  • Pieces typically ready for pickup in about 2 weeks

Paint a pot at Gotham Pottery

Here's a closer look at each option in this category, including pricing, session length, and when your finished pottery will be ready to pick up.

Paint a pot

$18 + piece (paid in the studio)

You'll follow printed instruction sheets and work independently — choose a ready-to-paint piece, glaze it at your own pace, and leave the firing to us. Want a teacher? Book one of our instructor-led pottery & painting classes.

90 minutesPieces ready approximately 2 weeks
  • Printed instruction sheets — work independently
  • Choose from our pottery selection
  • Professional glazes, food-safe coating, and firing included
  • Pieces ready in 2 weeks

Paint your own

$40

Come back to glaze and finish a piece you made in one of our classes — you'll follow printed instruction sheets and work independently, with professional firing included. Want a teacher? Book one of our instructor-led pottery & painting classes.

90 minutesPieces ready approximately 2 weeks
  • Printed instruction sheets — work independently
  • Bring pottery made in our classes only
  • Professional glazes, food-safe coating, and firing included
  • Pieces ready in 2 weeks

Paint a Pot starts at $18 plus the cost of the piece you choose, paid in the studio. Paint Your Own is $40 to glaze and fire a piece you made in one of our classes. Painting sessions are paid in full at the time of your visit.

Paint a pot in Manhattan — how to find us

Gotham Pottery sits at 146 W 29th Street in Manhattan, on the border of NoMad and Chelsea and just a few blocks from the Flatiron District, Herald Square, and Koreatown. The studio is on the fifth floor (suite 5W) of a classic NYC loft building.

Nearby trains

  • 128th St — 2 minute walk
  • N / Q / R / W28th St — 5 minute walk
  • B / D / F / M34th St – Herald Sq — 5 minute walk
  • A / C / E34th St – Penn Station — 8 minute walk
  • PATH33rd St — 5 minute walk

We're a short walk from Penn Station and Herald Square, so most guests arrive by subway or PATH. If you're driving, there are several parking garages on West 28th and 29th Streets between 6th and 7th Avenues; street parking is limited, so we recommend the subway when you can.

When you arrive

Take the elevator to the fifth floor and look for suite 5W. We recommend arriving about 10 minutes early so you can settle in, grab an apron, and meet your instructor before your session starts. Wear clothes you don't mind getting a little clay on, and keep your nails short if you plan to throw on the wheel.

The studio serves makers across NoMad, Chelsea, Flatiron, Herald Square, Koreatown, Midtown South, and the rest of New York City.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Paint a Pot and Paint Your Own?
Paint a Pot lets you choose from our selection of ready-to-paint ceramic pieces (from $18 plus the cost of the piece). Paint Your Own ($40) is for returning students who want to glaze and fire something they threw or built in one of our classes.
Is pottery painting instructor-led?
You'll follow printed instruction sheets and work independently. Want a teacher? Book one of our instructor-led pottery and painting classes.
Is there an age requirement for pottery painting?
Yes. Participants must be 14 or older. For younger makers, check out our kids pottery classes.
Is the glaze food-safe?
Yes. We finish painted pieces with professional, food-safe glazes and fire them in our kiln, so your mug or bowl is ready to use.
Where is Gotham Pottery located?
We're at 146 W 29th Street, Suite 5W, New York, NY 10001 — on the NoMad/Chelsea border in Manhattan, a 2-minute walk from the 28th St (1) station and close to Herald Square and Penn Station.
Do I need any pottery experience?
No. Almost every class is beginner-friendly and instructor-led, so you can walk in having never touched clay and leave with something you made yourself. Open Studio is the one exception, since it's reserved for experienced potters working independently.
When can I pick up my finished pieces?
Pottery has to be fired (and glazed, where included) before it's food-safe and ready to take home. Most wheel and hand-building pieces are ready about 3-4 weeks after your class, while paint-only pieces are usually ready in about 2 weeks. We'll email you when your work is ready for pickup.