Lovers of ceramic arts have a range of opportunities in Oak Park and the surrounding area, from the newly opened Color Me Mine pottery painting studio to community staples like ViaClay and Terra Incognito. Of course, Oak Park and River Forest High School has an extremely well equipped, high-level studio space and eminent caliber of learning. I visited some of Oak Park’s pottery studios to see how those not afraid to get their hands a little dirty can get involved.
Color Me Mine, located at 124 N. Oak Park Ave., opened in late September. When I visited, I was greeted with a wall of pottery pieces ranging from appetizer platters to seasonal pieces like jack-o-lantern candle holders. Customers can choose what they’d like to paint. My favorite feature at Color me Mine is the nearly 20 different techniques for painting. Each technique was displayed on a plate with a QR code that offered led me through how to replicate the pattern. Staff kindly offered me help throughout the process if I needed it, making the experience feel independent yet beginner friendly.
Terra Incognito, at 246 Chicago Ave., is one of the oldest pottery studios in the Chicagoland area, with over 40 years of service. The facade of the studio is comfortably crowded with pieces for sale, with teapots by acknowledged international names retailing for up to $400. In addition to wheel throwing and hand building pottery classes for individuals and groups, Terra Incognito offers shelf rental for established potters as well as workshops.
I was able to throw a piece of my own in the back half of the studio dedicated to creation. As an amateur potter, I felt extremely supported throughout the process. The specialized assistance from teachers led me to believe that Terra Incognito, owned by Frances Landfear, is a studio where good potters can become great potters.
A bright studio with floor to ceiling windows, ViaClay, located at 208 S. Marion St., opened in June of 2020. Founded by Gabe Tetrev and managed by John Beck, two OPRF graduates, ViaClay offers one-time experiences and six consecutive week-long classes.
To meet the demand for more seats, the ViaClay member studio, currently combined with the class studio, will relocate to Forest Park at 7744 Monroe Ave. in early 2026. Subscribers to ViaClay’s membership program can soon enjoy the 6,000 square foot open-plan studio. While purchasing finished pieces of work isn’t possible, a beautiful inspiration collection filled with bird houses, teapots, and more all thrown by artists ranging from OPRF students to international creatives meets visitors at the forefront of the Oak Park studio.
I worked one-on-one with Beck, who helped me better perfect my skills and recreate the vision I had for my piece. His patience with me signified to me that ViaClay is a studio where potters can truly feel supported in their journeys.
Slowfire Ceramics, located at 907 S. Lombard Ave and owned by Noelle Allen, offers more than ceramics. In addition to their mixed media art club, Slowfire offers classes and workshops in jewelrymaking, painting and drawing, and ukulele lessons. Completely unique to Slowfire Ceramics is their direct involvement with Oak Park youth via camps and classes at Lincoln Elementary School in River Forest and Beye Elementary School in Oak Park. While Slowfire generously welcomes adults as well, their year-round involvement in our community’s elementary schools elucidates the foundation’s love for the children of Oak Park and River Forest.
The Park District of Oak Park offers both wheelthrowing and hand-building classes for youth, beginners, partners and families at Dole Branch Library, 255 Augusta St. For those who aren’t sure if ceramics are for them, one-day “try-it” sessions are also available.
Students of OPRF have ceramics opportunities within close reach. OPRF’s studio space contains 27 total wheels and four kilns, and wheel throwing classes are offered at all levels. The Wheel Throwing Club’s annual Empty Bowls fundraiser, which takes place in March, provides another opportunity. For more than 20 years, students and local artists create and sell numerous handmade bowls and merchandise, raising money for hunger relief efforts locally and internationally for Beyond Hunger, Housing Forward and Global Alliance for Africa. Last year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser recently generated more than 1,000 bowls, 800 attendees, support from 20 local businesses and $12,000 in fundraising. For Bridget. Doherty, OPRF ceramics teacher and head of the Empty Bowls fundraiser, the art of clay is bigger than themselves.
