From wheel throwing to hand building, these are the best pottery classes in Melbourne
image via @bisque.studios/instagram
words by lara daly
Get your ‘Ghost’ on with these beginner-friendly ceramics workshops in Melbourne.
There’s something particularly satisfying about making an object you’ll actually use. Unlike my failed attempts at sewing tote bags and cushion covers, a slightly wonky handmade vase, coffee mug or incense holder has a certain charm to it.
And while Melbourne is home to plenty of ceramicists whose work we’d happily fill our shelves with, there’s something to be said for making a piece yourself.
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Pottery is also surprisingly easy to pick up; after a few classes, you’ll have a better understanding of clay, glazes and the techniques behind the pieces you admire.
Whether you want to get behind the wheel, follow your intuition with hand building, or learn a more specialised technique like Japanese nerikomi, Melbourne’s ceramics studios offer plenty of ways to get started. Here are eight of the best.
Slow Clay Centre
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Established in 1990 and based in Collingwood, Slow Clay Centre is one of Melbourne’s longstanding ceramics schools, offering everything from beginner classes to advanced training and mentorship. If you’re new to clay, start with a two-hour Taster Class before committing to an eight-week Beginner’s Wheel or Form & Surface Hand Building course. For more experienced potters, the centre also runs specialist workshops and advanced programs. It’s a good option if you’re looking to properly develop your technique, rather than simply make a pot and call it a day.
Find more here.
Bisque Studios
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Based in Northcote, Bisque Studios offers a range of hands-on workshops for all levels. Its introductory class covers the basics, while more specialised sessions let you experiment with techniques including nerikomi, porcelain pinching and inlay. If you have something specific in mind, there are also workshops dedicated to making particular pieces, from candlesticks to mugs. With a team of practising ceramic artists and potters behind the studio, there’s plenty of room to experiment beyond the basics.
Find more here.
Tantri Mustika Ceramics
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Held at Collingwood Yards, Tantri Mustika’s two-part Nerikomi Masterclass offers a more specialised introduction to ceramics. The workshop begins with colouring clay using stains and creating test tiles, before moving into the basics of nerikomi, a pattern-making technique that layers coloured clay to create intricate designs. You’ll make up to three pieces (think plates, bowls, ramekins or coasters), which will be glazed and fired by Tantri. The class is suitable for beginners and experienced ceramicists alike.
The next workshop is on October 29. Find more here.
Neo Ceramics
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Based in Kensington, Neo Ceramics is a studio for both learning and independent practice. Beginners can sign up for wheel throwing or hand-building term classes, while more experienced makers can book studio access to work on their own projects. There’s also a rotating program of specialised workshops, covering techniques like coloured clay, as well as more advanced topics including glazing and throwing.
The studio also hosts guest ceramicists, including Spanish artist José Mariscal, who will teach a crystalline glaze and throwing series in April 2027.
Find more here.
Terrapotter Studios
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With studios in South Melbourne and North Melbourne, Terrapotter Studios caters to everyone from the clay curious to developing potters. Its two-hour introductory wheel-throwing class is an easy starting point, while four- and seven-week courses take you through throwing, trimming and glazing. If you prefer to build by hand, its weekly Yin Hand Building class covers pinch, coil and slab techniques, with a little breath work and ‘zen’ folded in. For those looking to keep practising, studio access is also available to experienced students.
Find more here.
Lygon Street Pottery
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Lygon Street Pottery offers six-week courses in both wheel throwing and hand building, with six terms running throughout the year. If you’d rather try something more specific, its one-off workshops delve into particular techniques and projects, from glazing to making large-scale vessels. The studio’s Big Pot workshops, for example, teach you how to build large-scale works including statement vases and pots. It’s a good option if you already know your way around clay and want to develop a particular skill.
Find more here.
The Art Room
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Located in Footscray, The Art Room is an independent art school run by artists, with classes spanning everything from life drawing and painting to pottery. Its ceramics workshops are particularly good for anyone who wants to make something specific, with sessions dedicated to lidded vessels and tea pots alongside more open-ended classes. Beginners are welcome, and the studio encourages students to experiment rather than aiming for perfect results. If you’re looking for a broader creative community rather than a ceramics-only studio, it’s worth a look.
Find more here.
Sarah Schembri
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Australian ceramicist Sarah Schembri runs her Fitzroy studio as a space for potters of all experience levels, offering both one-off workshops and term classes. You can choose between hand building and throwing on the wheel, with Sarah and her team on hand to guide you through the process. The light-filled studio is equipped with professional pottery wheels, tools and a kiln, making it a good place to build your skills, or simply try ceramics for the first time.
Find more here.
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