Pottery Workshops · Manhattan, NYC

Try Pottery in Manhattan

Beginner-friendly wheel throwing, hand building, and pottery painting in small groups.

  • No experience needed
  • All clay & tools included
  • Small instructor-led groups
  • Take home what you make

Choose your class

The Pottery Workshop$90/personWheel & hand building · two share a wheelBookPottery & Painting Workshop$120/personMake, paint & glaze the same dayBookHand Building Class$65/personNo wheel · same-day paint & glazeBook
See full details & FAQ below
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About our Workshops

Our pottery workshops are the easiest way to try clay in Manhattan. Every session is led by a working potter in a small group, so whether you're chasing a new hobby, planning a relaxed outing with friends, or finally crossing "learn pottery" off your list, you'll get real hands-on guidance from start to finish.

Choose The Pottery Workshop to focus on wheel throwing and hand building with bisque firing, the Pottery & Painting Workshop for wheel throwing plus same-day painting and glazing, or the Hand Building Class to sculpt without a wheel using pinch-pot, slab, and coil techniques — with same-day painting and glazing included. All clay is included and you're welcome to start over as many times as you need.

Who it's for

  • First-timers who want to try the pottery wheel with guidance
  • Experienced makers who want to practice more complex shapes
  • Friends, coworkers, and small groups looking for a creative outing
  • Hobbyists who want to build skills in a low-pressure setting
  • Anyone who prefers hand building over the wheel

What's included

  • Professional, hands-on instruction in a small group
  • Unlimited clay during your session — mess up and start over
  • Wheel time and hand-building tools as needed
  • Aprons provided
  • Bisque firing on The Pottery Workshop; same-day painting and glazing on Hand Building and Pottery & Painting workshops

Workshops 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.

The Pottery Workshop

$90/person

Wheel throwing and handbuilding in a small group

2 hoursPieces ready approximately 3-4 weeks
  • Professional, hands-on instruction in a small group
  • Wheel throwing and hand building (two makers share a wheel)
  • Unlimited clay and bisque firing included
  • Aprons provided
  • Pieces ready in 3-4 weeks

Pottery & Painting Workshop

$120/person

Create and paint your pottery in one session

2 hoursPieces ready approximately 3-4 weeks
  • Professional, hands-on instruction in a small group
  • Wheel throwing and hand building (two makers share a wheel)
  • Same-day painting, glazing, and firing included
  • Aprons provided
  • Pieces ready in 3-4 weeks

Hand Building Class

$65/person

Hand-build with pinch-pot, slab, and coil techniques — same-day painting and glazing included

2 hoursPieces ready approximately 3-4 weeks
  • Pro-led handbuilding in a small group
  • Pinch-pot, slab, and coil techniques
  • Unlimited clay — mess up and start over
  • Same-day painting, glazing, and firing included
  • No pottery wheel
  • Aprons provided
  • Pieces ready in 3-4 weeks

Workshops are $65-$120 per person depending on the class, with a 50% deposit to reserve your spot and the balance due on the day. The Hand Building Class and Pottery & Painting Workshop include same-day painting plus glazing and firing; on The Pottery Workshop you can add a clear glaze finish for $20 per person or painting & glazing for $30 per person — choose one or neither.

Workshops 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 — 6 minute walk
  • B / D / F / M34th St – Herald Sq — 6 minute walk
  • A / C / E34th St – Penn Station — 9 minute walk
  • PATH33rd St — 6 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 the three workshops?
The Pottery Workshop ($90) covers wheel throwing and hand building with bisque firing included. The Pottery & Painting Workshop ($120) adds same-day painting with glazing and firing on the wheel. The Hand Building Class ($65) skips the wheel and focuses on pinch-pot, slab, and coil techniques with same-day painting and glazing included.
Will I get to use the pottery wheel?
Yes — The Pottery Workshop and Pottery & Painting Workshop both include wheel time, with two people sharing each wheel and an instructor guiding you. The Hand Building Class is the one workshop that doesn't use the wheel.
How big are the groups?
We keep workshops small. The studio has 6 wheels with up to two makers per wheel, so wheel-based workshops cap at 12 people and you always have an instructor close by.
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 a week. We'll email you when your work is ready for pickup.