Business Details
16 Years
experience
Ceramics Studio in Chicago, IL
Founded in 2010, our studio has grown into a vibrant community hub dedicated to fostering creativity through ceramics. We provide a welcoming environment where individuals of all skill levels can explore pottery, supported by experienced instructors and state-of-the-art facilities. Our commitment to inclusivity ensures that everyone feels valued, with accessible spaces and tools designed for diverse needs. We prioritize sustainability through clay reclaim and eco-friendly practices, while maintaining affordability with no hidden fees for materials or firings.Our team of certified instructors brings decades of combined experience, offering personalized guidance to help students master techniques from wheel-throwing to advanced glazing. By maintaining 24/7 access for instructors and hosting weekly staff meetings, we ensure continuous improvement driven by direct feedback from our community. This dedication to transparency, professional development, and community growth has made us a trusted destination for ceramic arts in Chicago.
Services
Pottery classes
Workshops
Open studio access
Gift certificates
Community programs
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We offer inclusive, accessible facilities with handicap-friendly equipment and spaces
- Our instructors receive professional development stipends and 24/7 studio access
- We maintain affordability with no hidden fees for tools or materials
- We practice sustainability through clay reclaim and eco-friendly products
- Our community-driven approach includes weekly staff meetings for continuous improvement
Services
Pottery classes
We offer comprehensive pottery classes for all skill levels from beginner to advanced. Our curriculum covers wheel-throwing, hand-building, glazing techniques, and kiln operation. Students receive personalized instruction while working with professional-grade equipment including 37 potter's wheels and three electric kilns.
Open studio access
Current students and members can schedule open studio time outside regular classes. This includes access to all tools, glazes, and firing services. Our facility features a negative pressure air system for clean working conditions and 24/7 access for instructors.
Community workshops
Our community workshops combine pottery with social impact initiatives. Participants create ceramic pieces while supporting local nonprofits through our Clay It Forward program. Each session includes professional instruction and all materials needed for wheel-throwing or hand-building projects.
Gift certificates
Digital gift certificates provide access to pottery classes, workshops, or studio time. Available in customizable amounts starting at $50, these certificates make ideal gifts for creative individuals. Recipients can redeem them online during registration.
Equity programs
We maintain affordability through low pricing, free open studio time, and accessibility accommodations. Our initiatives include scholarship opportunities, pronoun inclusivity practices, and visual aids for non-English speakers. We also offer equipment loans and participate in local art sales to support emerging artists.
People
Chris Busse
Co-Owner
Co-founder with 14 years of experience running Chicago's premier ceramics studio. Former CPS art teacher committed to making pottery accessible to all community members through inclusive programming and facility design.
Paige Busse
Co-Owner
Co-founder who transitioned from corporate work to establish Chicago's leading ceramics community. Focuses on operational management and maintaining the studio's commitment to affordability and sustainability through strategic business practices.
Ryanne Maldonado
Studio Manager
Studio Manager with expertise in functional pottery design. Teaches beginner wheel-throwing classes while overseeing daily operations. Creates pieces that combine practical use with artistic expression, with works distributed internationally.
Elio Baseman
Instructor
Sculpture artist and performer specializing in interactive clay works. Teaches diverse mediums while integrating movement and play into ceramic art instruction. Focuses on expanding bodily expression through sculptural forms.
Sophia Galassini
Instructor
Studio art graduate with expertise in ceramics and material studies. Committed to making pottery accessible through clear instruction and community engagement. Balances teaching with personal artistic pursuits and craft hobbies.
Questions
What types of pottery classes do you offer?
We offer wheel-throwing, hand-building, and glazing classes for all skill levels from complete beginners to advanced makers.
Are your facilities accessible for people with disabilities?
Yes, we provide handicap-friendly bathrooms, wheel risers, standing wheels, and accessible classrooms with no stairs.
Can I work on my pottery outside class hours?
Current students can schedule open studio time outside their regular classes with access to all tools and glazing facilities.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes, we offer digital gift certificates starting at $50 that can be redeemed for classes, workshops, or studio time.
What sustainability practices do you implement?
We practice clay reclaim, use eco-friendly cleaning products, and recycle materials to maintain an environmentally responsible studio.
How do you support the local community?
Through our Clay It Forward program, we donate workshop proceeds to local nonprofits and provide free studio access for community artists.
Videos
Reviews (6)
Shanel S.
Jan 12, 2022
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Highly recommend for anyone from newbie to advanced - they have something to offer for anyone. Finding a pottery class during Covid isn't easy, but after calling MANY places and looking at websites, Penguin Foot was the only one with full transparency and opened their books when they said they would. Their classes last four weeks and are two hours long so it's not a huge commitment. We ended up signing for two classes back to back with Hiroki and loved them! So much that we brought a friend the second time around. Hiroki gets straight to the point so you're on the wheel from the
Elsa S.
Dec 27, 2021
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Love the instructors and the facilities. Everyone is so friendly and there are so many glazes! Couple things to note and some suggestions:
A.) It's tough to get evening studio time so you really have to stay on it. Classes also sell out fast once they're listed online within hours - so again, stay on it and you'll get a class.
B.) I wish the classes were longer. I'd rather pay more money and do an 8-12 week class. 4 weeks just goes by too fast. Felt like I just started to get to know my instructor and the other folks in class before it was all over.
C.) Some of the class
A.) It's tough to get evening studio time so you really have to stay on it. Classes also sell out fast once they're listed online within hours - so again, stay on it and you'll get a class.
B.) I wish the classes were longer. I'd rather pay more money and do an 8-12 week class. 4 weeks just goes by too fast. Felt like I just started to get to know my instructor and the other folks in class before it was all over.
C.) Some of the class
Karen S.
Nov 20, 2021
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I love this place! Super chill and welcoming space. Im new to pottery and started at another studio that had disinterested instructors and made you pay for every little thing. At Penguin Foot the instructors are ALWAYS around and ready to help explain or instruct either during class or during Open Studio time. They also have everything you need to use, for free when you sign up for a class. This has become my "happy place"!
Andrew Kovacic
Oct 07, 2021
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Took a beginner pottery class and fell in love. The four class times have great demos and direct help, but are also very chill and low pressure. Classes come with open studio time too where you can sometimes get extra help and extra practice. Im excited for future classes as I ramp up the class skill levels!
Dennis B.
Sep 22, 2021
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Attended the workshop to get an idea what pottery is about. The whole concept is great, and this in theory would have been an interesting event, but unfortunately it was not. The people who work there are nice and they will come help you if you ask them, but we never managed to make it work from the very beginning, so we kept trying for a couple of hours until leaving early (it was a three hour event). Other people around us had similar difficulties, and a few others clearly had a lot of experience, so I'm guessing the teachers just didn't tell us all the secrets. The whole thing was
Elizabeth Otter
Apr 21, 2021
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Penguin Foot wants you to follow CDC and city COVID rules, but won't updated their own policies to accommodate COVID events. Leaving you high and dry for being a good rule following citizen. My story below. As for the one class I went to - It was fine. I would have gone back, but there was nothing remarkable about what I learned or instruction. If you sign up and goas a pottery novias like I was, I would recommend you watch as many youtube video's on throwing pottery before you attend your first class. As for my COVID set back that Penguin Foot management didn't handle/acknowledge --> I signed
