Clayroom

If you've ever thought about learning to throw clay then the Clayroom is for you. They offer classes at all levels. I am on their Intro to Clay course. It's fantastic. Great tuition and lots of opportunity to practice between sessions. It's a great facility and everyone is super friendly and helpful. You won't regret signing up.

The owner responded quickly and professionally, which I truly appreciate. While I won’t be returning to this location, I still respect the Clayroom brand and what it represents. I’ve been taking classes here regularly, but unfortunately had a negative experience with an older bald Asian man—unclear if he's staff or a member—who was repeatedly condescending and intrusive during my studio time. Despite being an experienced ceramicist, I was questioned unnecessarily and hovered over while working, which made the environment feel tense and unwelcoming. He even went so far as to track down staff over a minor, harmless use of kiln furniture that I had already returned—something that felt more personal than procedural. I haven’t observed this same level of scrutiny toward others, and as a younger woman of color, the dynamic felt off. The studio also has some operational issues: it’s quite dusty, disorganized, and locating finished pieces can take weeks. While the class itself was okay, the overall value doesn’t justify the cost—especially when compared to cleaner, more respectful studios in the city like Clayroom SOMA, The Pottery Studio, or Wheelhouse Clay.

Great experience - I would recommend signing up for at least a workshop or ideally a 6-week session. That being said, my partner and I signed up for Intro to Clay with Julia which is 6 classes held over 6 weeks that introduces you to wheel throwing (the cool, messy, and kind of difficult pottery that first comes to mind), slab pottery (much more controllable, but arguable less fun due to the lack of chaos), and finally glazing (analysis-paralysis meets excited anticipation for your pieces to come out of the oven). At the start of each lesson we would get a brief talk about what we would be learning followed by a masterful demo by the instructor. She would talk as she was demonstrating, describing body position (braced), wheel speed, and technique (hand and finger position, form, pressure, etc.). We then had the rest of the class to practise what we had learned/make pieces while enjoying the opportunity to ask questions and request guidance. Julia mentioned this in class, but it really can't be overstated how useful/important it is to go back to the studio during open studio hours to practice and create additional pieces (otherwise you'll never get through all your clay). Recommended to go with a friend to help pass the time and for the moral support (wheel throwing can be hard!) Why are there no photos in my review? Well, when your hands are covered in clay you don't really have the ability to pull your phone out to snap all the fun you're having...I'll be returning to the studio at some point this year so I can make a bunch of gifts for friends and family.

What a fun class and great intro and overall experience learning how the basics of wheel throwing! I had zero experience. It was such a fun low pressure way to learn an our instructor. There was about 8 people in the class. Richard and his helper were really amazing and patient and encouraging. I think I was the worst one. 😆 So … def not going to quit my day job, but I had so much fun I will def be thinking about taking the wk course. It’s very meditative and perfect to end a rather hectic week. You also get to keep 2 of your masterpieces but there is a 4-6 week wait for it. Really awesome experience. Thank you!!!

We had a really great time at the tryday wheel throwing class! The facility is great, our instructor AG kept it simple, helped a lot and made it so much fun! As a complete beginner I left feeling I had accomplished something and wanting more. Highly recommend!

I enrolled in a beginner's clay course and was disappointed in the experience. Communication with the studio is really difficult. I have multiple examples where communication was lacking: 1. Before the first class, I knew that I was not able to make the first session. Per their website, you can jump into another session to make it up, so I didn't think it was an issue. However, my emails were ignored and the phone wasn't picked up for several tries. Side note: Turns out it was okay for me to miss the first session. We had a substitute instructor and not much was taught anyway. I had no issues with joining the second class because there wasn't a lot of material to catch up on. I was surprised the first session was a bit of a wash because classes are expensive and there are only six sessions. 2. We had class go over Labor Day Weekend and it was difficult to figure out if we had class or not. Instructor didn't know. 3. Our sessions are now over and I have no idea if my pieces are ready to pick up or not? It just feels like I need to drive over and check every now and then but that's kind of a pain, especially with city traffic. I would have at least appreciate an estimate as to when the pieces would be available. Finally, class was held on the bottom floor in an open area and it was incredibly distracting to have people not in the class walk around the area in the middle of a demo and have conversations in the hallway. The glazing area is also very crowded. Edit: The owner reached back out with a sincere apology for the experience and refunded me for the class. I am pleased with how they handled the situation and the resolution.

Beautiful studio, large open and filled with light. It's amazing to see all the talented artists in the space. I took a 6-week class and learned a ton. Neil and his team are amazing teachers and really value seeing people develop their crafting skills and a sense of community. I also attended the member holiday sale and really loved seeing all the pieces and the lively people. Highly recommend this place!!

My partner and I went to the TryDay class at the Clayroom located in Potrero Hill. The class was amazing! Teresa was a fantastic teacher, walking through each of the significant steps, leaving plenty of time for us to experiment on the potters wheel ourselves. Very fun way to celebrate a special occasion or to spend a solid afternoon!

Super fun experience instructor is extremely knowledgeable Haven't been able to pick up my clay wear yet, but will update when will definitely be going back.

Update: the studio reached out to me and were very kind about the situation and appropriately apologetic. Overall, I'd say the people there and my interactions with them were all very pleasant. I'd recommend their classes to others with a note: if the clay feels too sharp, ask for another batch!

I recently took Next Steps with Chris here and wanted to update my review because I'm a huge fan of the new glazes at this studio! Chris and the other instructors that subbed (Jonah & Anika) were great and I feel like I improved a lot in this class. I've never tried making a lidded jar and it was so humbling and fun to try! My cylinders and handles also improved and I made a lot of pieces that I'm really happy with and use every day. My favorites glazes were: - Plum under Koke Yellow on Moroccan Sand - Niji Black under Ling's Green on Electric Brown - Koke Blue under Magical Mist on Moroccan Sand - Colonial White under Purple Haze on Moroccan Sand: Purple Haze isn't food safe so I glazed a vase and the outside of a bowl - Paula's Pink on Moroccan Sand - Ling's Green on Electric Brown/Moroccan Sand - Spanish Brown under Morning Glory Blue on Speckled Buff - Purple under Koke Yellow on Electric Brown

My partner signed up for a 6 week Intro to clay beginner session: The good: instructor was super nice and patient. He goes above and beyond whenever a student has any questions. Stays behind to address questions even after class hours. Generous amount of clay to work with. No complaints with the equipment / kiln. Convenient location (right around bus stops!) The bad: shelf space is incredibly limited with HORRIBLE organizing. There was a mix up where my partner's clay piece mug went missing. She reached out to the office via email and was met with indifference. Basically, their responses were: Don't know. Try looking around. Might be in the back of the shelf, etc... And when she eventually found her mug, which was already taken & painted over by another student, the staff's email attitude again shows indifference. No compensation, no follow ups, no emails to students to remind folks that they should double check, no offers to make this right. Complete lack of care. So...... If there's a mix up and someone snatches your clay piece, either by mistake or ill-will, good luck with that? We get that mix-ups happen and can accept with some skepticism that someone else thought it was theirs (student initials are carved under all pieces), but this is not the level of professionalism or care we would expect from a business like this. TLDR: 2.5 stars. Bad probably outweighs the good, which is a pity. They probably grew too big to care. Would def not recommend this business if you would like to spend a lot of effort into your clay pieces with the risk of them going missing and having to deal with indifference on top of disappointment at the end of the day.

Clayroom SOMA has an amazing space for potters & artists! I enrolled in one of their "intro to clay wheel"classes & have absolutely loved it so far! They offer a wide variety of classes - like woodworking, slipcasting, and hand building. They also offer memberships for potters looking for a home base. The space is open and airy and the teachers/staff are so helpful & inviting even during non-class hours. One thing I love about this studio is their long hours, they open at 10am everyday and are open late on the weekends. This gives me a lot of opportunities to go into the studio and practice on my schedule. Easy to reach via email. I can't wait to take more of their classes and will 100% recommend to anyone looking to stretch their creativity!

Thoroughly enjoyed my 2 hour Intro to Wheel Throwing at the Clayroom! Jess D. surprised me with a class here as my Christmas present, and it was one of the best gifts I received. About 10 years ago, I tried my hands at ceramics with a series of classes, at a different studio, for 10 weeks and failed miserably. None of my pieces would pull and they were all uneven. However, despite my failures, I was determined to try again. What I love about the instructor I got at the Clay Room is that she was able to explain everything in a way that made sense for me. The instructor explained why you would hold your hands a certain way, why you should move your hands in certain directions, the importance of a certain step, etc. Despite a class size of 8, I still managed to get a lot of individual attention from the instructor as she would visit each person and help them out. With her help, I was able to walk away with 2 decent bowls. This was the first time I was able to create something decent. If the Clayroom wasn't so far from my house, I would definitely sign up for lessons.

We had a team building event here and the experience was amazing, educational and hardwork! No experience needed! Who knew a potter's wheel would be such a challenge to learn! Our small group of 5, received a lot of "teacher time" from the wonderful Kelly. She really took the time to teach us about the potter's wheel, showing us how "easy" it is to use. Lesson time with her was amazing!! We were each given aprons and each sat behind a potter's wheel in the room. The wheel was dirty, messy fun & I enjoyed every moment. Following our time on the potter's wheel, we went to another room to learn about sculpting & molding red clay. Another "looks easier than it actually is" activity! Before us, on our table was a 1/2" thick slab of red clay about a foot long. There were all kinds of tools available to cut the clay and cookie cutter type molds, impression patterns & rolling pins to make imprints on the clay. Definitely much cleaner than the potter's wheel, but your hands turn a little red from the clay. We were also given a tour of facility, shown the firing room and Kelly explained the glazing/firing process in the kiln. Overall, this experience was unbelievably fun and we each walked away with multiple pieces of pottery. This is a great place to for hands on clay making.

The Wheel-throwing TryDay in Potrero was great. Instructors were very friendly and helpful. Small class sizes also make learning fun and more engaging. Going into it with no experience and I still had a great time!

I chose to have a team event with my company at Clayroom and Rigo was such a fantastic teacher! They really took the time to go over to each of us to make sure we made something half decent. I appreciate their kind spirit and I hope they enjoyed a bit of our work gossip. My team was so excited for this event so I appreciate Rigo and Clayroom making it fun and enjoyable.

I came in over a month ago. Did a try class. I made a few items. I've called several times to pickup the clay items I made. No one has returned my call. Don't waste your money here. Your will never get the things you made back.

Highly recommended. No experience required. If you have no talent, prior pottery exposure or artistry like myself, take some classes for addictive fun. If you are an expert potter, there are also highly experienced and inspiring students and members. I have never 'potted' before, but started my first beginners class a short 9 months ago. I have continued with the wide variety of classes (missing the occasional session due to travel), but am pleased with noticeable improvement that comes with practice. This is a wonderful studio with lovely staff/teachers and some extremely helpful and encouraging members. The classes are varied and studio open hours are great. They also hold some fantastically fun events!

I helped organize a team work offsite here, and we had a great experience! Booking and coordinating with them was easy and seamless. They were able to accommodate our large group (~25). Mostly all of us were new to wheeling throwing and it was a great intro for our 2 hour session. We learned the basic process and techniques were able to make some cool bowls, cups, plates, etc. The instructors were very welcoming and helpful during the instruction and in going around and assisting our group. Looking forward to coming back to pick up our works of art and seeing how our pieces came out.

I came here for a team offsite and had a fantastic time! The instructors were great and very accommodating. My groups instructor made the pottery throwing experience very interactive, fun, and amusing. He had us out of our seats, moving around the room, and all around laughing during our session with him. The actual class itself is pretty hard, not going to lie. But with the help of the instructor I created something that looked like a pottery piece :) I definitely recommend trying a pottery making class and the Clayroom is the perfect place to start!

great in many ways: the physical space is great, very well lit, even lots of natural light, and includes plenty of space for hand builders like myself. Easy to park at Potrero studio too. lots of nice folks working there and as well as community members. its always fun to meet other members and learn about the variety of backgrounds and what has brought them to clay. biggest downside is the lack of cleanliness. dirtiest studio I've worked in by far. I mention this bc clay and glaze dust are a health hazard. expect to clean off a table and studio tools before you start work. Very dusty floors. There is a very low bar in this arena.

I love this place. I was lucky enough to get a membership when they first opened, and it has been such a wonderful place to make pottery. The owners and staff are all super kind and helpful, the teaching staff is great. I am not the best potter by any stretch of the imagination, but I feel very welcomed and supported by the community here. I made a bunch of bud vases for my wedding, and the general manager was really good about nudging me when time was getting short. I also love that there are studio dogs! If you are thinking about bringing a dog, you absolutely must be sure your dog can hang in the environment - your dog needs to be calm around other dogs and not be tempted to eat a bunch of glaze (i.e. poison filled with glass) or other materials lying around! Your dog is your responsibility!

Took a couple class sessions here, the staff is amazing and they held some cool free events too with local artists. The community is friendly and helpful and they have everything you need for every level. The open studio hours are generous and accessible, turnaround time for firing and glazing is also super quick. I love the space and I hope to check out the new location in SOMA sometime. The classes fill up super quickly so make sure you sign up for their mailing list.

This place is as good as it gets. I have been a member here ever since it opened. The staff is amazing, friendly, and encouraging! The thing I love most about Clayroom being able to be a part of this creative community. They do beginners classes, intermediate classes, handbuilding, wheel throwing, and workshops! I hear the waitlist for membership is long and it can be hard to get into classes. It's worth the wait, but if you aren't into waiting, they are opening a second location that includes woodworking as well! (Clayroom SOMA) Lastly, it's where I make my pottery. --Shameless plug -- check my IG @quixoticsf

Neil from the clayroom reached out to me and made this mostly right by refunding the class cost, apologizing for the experience, and encouraging me to continue to try clay in the future. I wasn't able to recover the clay that I made, so minus a star, but otherwise I would recommend going if the location is convenient to you. I will advise that you only go if you can attend every single class. Missing just one can cause you to not be able to have a piece by missing the time window for firing. Also doubly confirm if you plan to come in for open studio time that the studio is open since they sometimes have events in the evening.

Just finished the 3 boxes beginning woodworking class and enjoyed it immensely. Learnt a bunch and had fun too.

I have been a member at the SoMa location since 2020. Cannot recommend these studios enough--excellent classes, great opportunities to attend workshops with renowned international potters, fun community, lovely atmosphere. The SoMa location also offers woodworking.

Clayroom has a great creative, community vibe. They have a good number of wheels and some nice handbuilding spaces, and a fantastic staff of instructors to show you how to get the most out of your time and interests. The team that owns and manages the studio has really knocked it out of the park. The skills in the studio seem to range from beginner to professional, so no matter your skills, you'll be welcome. The price is fair, the location is convenient to 280 and the city, and there's plenty of parking. Couldn't ask for much more!

Beautiful studio, large open and filled with light. It's amazing to see all the talented artists in the space. I took a 6-week class and learned a ton. Neil and his team are amazing teachers and really value seeing people develop their crafting skills and a sense of community. I also attended the member holiday sale and really loved seeing all the pieces and the lively people. Highly recommend this place!!

I have been taking classes continuously since this great studio began. It is a lovely place with a great studio atmosphere, and the owners ate terrific! They are very hands on, welcome questions and feedback. Open studio hours for those enrolled are extremely generous. I have been a professional painter for 13 years, and know a healthy and supportive studio environment when I experience one. Try it, and you may become a clay afficiando too!

Ceramics studio at the base of Potrero Hill providing classes, workshops, and an open studio. They offer a diversity of high-quality glazes, materials, and beautiful workshop-chic open spaces so you can milk your creativity. The kilns are constantly going and the firing turnaround time is faster than any studio I've worked out of before! The Experience: Whether you're here for a class, workshop, or open studio hours, you don your apron, grab a hunk of clay and start creating. Every class I've sat in on or workshop attended has been stellar. As opposed to cookie-cutter classes where the instructors lecture off a standard script, the instructors at Clayroom observe your movements and know exactly what small tricks and tips to give to push you in the right direction. As with any clay work, you'll 1) build your clay form, 2) let it dry, 3) fire it, 4) glaze it, and 5) fire it into a finished product. Each step is highly rewarding, so if you're still new to clay, I'd recommend taking a full class set where you come in once a week and watch your clay projects transform over time. The Magic: It always feels like Easter -- that little adrenaline rush of excitement and anticipation not knowing exactly what to expect -- as you walk through the doors to see your clay pieces transformed. And to admire and be inspired by the new pieces materializing on the other artists' shelves as well! But all the magic lies in the community at Clayroom. I missed my first two weeks when I first joined as a Resident Artist, but when I finally came in, Neil excitedly showed me the space. "Can I use these tools?" I ask, having not brought mine in yet. "Sure, of course. Look we really just want you to come in and create things!" That small gesture of warmth reflects everything that the Clayroom community is about: empowering each individual student and artist to create, innovate, explore. That's what drives the partners and instructors at Clayroom -- they're truly passionate about helping you tap into your potential and watching beautiful works come out of the studio. The Tips: -- Classes are capped at a handful of students, so sign up early! -- With class registration, you can come into the studio to practice or work on your projects during the generous open studio hours (typically 10AM - 6PM everyday) -- If you're interested in a Resident Artist Membership, apply now! Last I heard, there's a waitlist. It's very long... -- Friday Clay Nights at 7pm are perfect for dates! It's a chill one-time class that's BYOB. Come hang with the artists, center some clay, get messy-cute, and live your dreams of recreating that Ghost pottery scene ;)

I had a great experience here, mainly due to the amazing staff ceramist who helped me out. Her name was Gina and she made me feel confident and inspired as it was my first time really diving into ceramics/pottery. She guided me with patience and friendliness through the whole process, and made me feel so welcomed. I'm so glad I had the pleasure of working with Gina, she was a great help and what all staff should thrive to be like, especially in such interactive environments as these. Great job!

Five stars for the new ceramics studio in Potrero. They put together a class for my son's school, which is just around the corner. Excellent teachers with oodles of patience and attention to detail. We're enjoying the class very much. Photos to come....!

Can't say enough great things about Clayroom's youth classes! Kid was interested in exploring more with clay after a 45-minute stint at a mom/pop pottery place (class field trip; avoid the one on Balboa Street), so we booked a weekend session at Clayroom. Did they deliver! The teacher we worked with was professional, knowledgeable, kid-friendly, and thoroughly explained how to work with the clay throughout the entire process. We ended up picking up three beautiful pieces once they were ready. Can't say enough great things about the friendly and creative atmosphere here!

another good place for art classes and to make some holiday gifts for family.

Review is for Clayroom's booking process. Really wanted to do a class at Clayroom. Was told that enrollment would be available at 8pm on a Sunday night and that classes would likely fill in 5 minutes. Rearranged my evening to make sure I had access to wifi at that time. Started my booking at 8pm but by the time I hit the pay button at 8.02pm the class was fully booked! I tried to book other days immediately after, but they were full too. So disappointing! How do you actually get to score a class here??

This is my favorite pottery studio in SF. The community is great - The teachers and staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful. The members are friendly and do inspiring work. And, the studio is a perfect size. It's not too big (where stuff gets lost) or small (it's not crowded). I'd recommend Clayroom for a one-off class or the longer classes.

Love Clayroom! The studio has a wonderful atmosphere with a helpful and happy vibe and staff. As a member I really appreciate the generous open studio hours, so I never feel pressed or stressed to get out of there quickly. Basically, you can work all day every day of the week if you choose. There are many (many!) wheels and the studio offers a variety of work rooms and areas to accommodate your needs and mood. Some days you feel social (there's that), and some days you feel focused and need to concentrate (there's that too). Clay orders and firing fees are efficient and accommodating. I really appreciate the effort and practices the core team/owners have put into the overall business operations. They are there personally everyday so any issues are addressed efficiently and they always welcome our feedback. It's a truly collaborative studio. The Potrero location is great too. Good parking and numerous food choices nearby. Win, win! I highly recommend Clayroom for beginning to advanced pottery classes, and for those looking for a solid studio space to develop your craft.

Starting out as a beginner, I've now taken classes at Clayroom for over 8 months and I love it! The variety of classes they offer and awesome teachers make sure you're always learning something new. The staff and members of the space are also welcoming, inclusive, and fun!

I love it here. I started my first class here in May, and I've been in classes nonstop ever since. The owners are great, the instructors are awesome, and the space is comfortable and well laid-out. If you're a current student in any class, you can come in and work during open studio hours which are nearly all day (ending just before evening classes start), seven days a week. The turn around time for getting your pieces fired is really fast (I've never waited more than a week). The studio and staff are all awesome. My only complaint is the way some members occasionally act toward students. Mostly, they work in their own members-only area, so students can feel free to work and make mistakes and learn lessons the hard way without embarrassment in the rest of the studio. But there is no handbuilding table in the member area, so they can be working side-by-side with students there. Most of the members are great and kind and encouraging, but sometimes one or two members act rudely towards students who are less experienced. One member, in particular, even interrupted our class! Our instructor was teaching us about underglazes in the handbuilding classroom, and this member walked into the classroom, picked up the box of underglazes from where it sat on the table right in front of the instructor as she talked, and she just walked out of the room, taking the entire box of underglazes with her! It was absurd, and it interrupted the flow and process of the class. The instructor was chill about it and just rolled her eyes and moved on, but I was disappointed not to get to try working with the underglazes that the member had taken away. Ignoring the behavior of one or two rude folks (there are a couple everywhere, aren't there?), Clayroom is an awesome, fun, and supportive environment for learning to work with clay.

What a fantastic spot to learn an amazing art form! Neil and everyone at the Clayroom are kind, thoughtful, and have a great teaching style. I'm so happy to have gotten into a class this year, and I hope to spend many more hours at the wheel.

Been a member here for almost a year and absolutely love it. Many wheels for throwing, 4 kilns, you can be as social or independent as you want to be. Helpful and candid support in a fun environment.

Love this spot. I've been to a few ceramics studios in the city and by far, this is the most welcoming and personal.

I've been a member at the Clayroom for more than a year and a half and I could not be happier with this community studio. The staff is professional, caring, flexible, and fun. I look forward to hanging out with the community nearly as much as making my work. I was blown away when they offered to subsidize the Open Studios participation fee (both in 2018 and 2019) for anyone who wanted to do it. The support and encouragement of the entire community is wonderful, and I feel lucky and grateful to have found them.

I've been a member here for almost 2 years and it's been a great experience! All the staff members are very friendly and helpful. The open studio hours are great for those who have 9-5 jobs. I've never had any issues finding a wheel to use or space to work. And they have a wide variety of clay bodies, glazes, and tools.

I started taking classes when Clayroom opened in 2018 and graduated to becoming a member in 2019. It is a really special place and a wonderful community. Everyone really helps and supports you as you learn and try new things. And great equipment in a comfortable and pretty setting conducive to creativity and community.

I was completely new to pottery and had never touched clay before. I am a senior. When my friend told me about this newly opened place I took a drop in class. The studio is well equipped and spacious. One can take a course drop in classes.The teachers are very professional and patient. They demonstrate the steps, the students then follow the steps to make their own creations, with the teacher helping and explaining all the time. When you finish, your creation is put in the oven. (I made 2 pots). They have classes for kids too. A wonderful experience and a great find.

I learned a new passion because of Clayroom. I can't imagine a more supportive and wonderful community. Kind and supportive. Amazing space. Brilliant instructors. I can't recommend it enough.

We visited Clayroom for a team-building event. Kelly was great! She was very patient with our team of 11, clearly explaining every step, and spending time with each of us, individually, to make sure that we were able to shape the clay into something that we could each take home. It's a very relaxed atmosphere, which is great because none of us had any prior experience. We were able to bring snacks and our CEO's dog and had an awesome time. I highly recommend a workshop for your next team offsite!

Update - management at Clayroom reached out and offered us a free class or a full refund. They clearly care about their customers. This experience must not have been representative of all group classes at Clayroom.

Clayroom reached out and apologized to our group. They also refunded us for the class and offered us another one at no charge. The extra effort is appreciated and it is certainly possible our experience isn't representative of what their classes are usually like.