Throw Clay LA is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The studio is closed on New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and closes early on the day before Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Where can I find pottery classes for beginners in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers pottery classes for beginners in a welcoming downtown Los Angeles studio. Our one-time and six-week courses introduce the basics of wheel throwing and handbuilding with step-by-step instruction from experienced teachers. Students learn how to center clay, create simple forms, and glaze their finished pieces using our cone 5/6 clay bodies. Classes are small, hands-on, and perfect for anyone curious to explore clay for the first time.

What makes Throw Clay LA the best pottery date night in Los Angeles?

Throw Clay LA offers one of Los Angeles’s most creative and relaxed date nights. Couples share creativity in a fun, informal studio setting while learning the basics of pottery together. Each person has their own wheel and creates their own piece, guided by friendly instructors. It’s a memorable, hands-on experience that blends laughter, art, and connection.

Do you offer one-time pottery classes for beginners?

Yes. Our one-time pottery classes are designed for beginners and anyone curious to try working with clay. In a single 1 hour and 45 minute session, you’ll learn the basics of throwing on the wheel, choose your glaze colors, and we’ll finish and fire your pieces for you. It’s a fun, no-pressure introduction to pottery in a welcoming studio environment.

Do you offer kids' classes?

Our classes and courses are designed for adults 18 and older. Teens ages 13–17 may join a One-Time class if accompanied by an adult booked in the same class.

What is the difference between throwing on the wheel and handbuilding?

Wheel throwing uses gravity and centrifugal force to shape clay on the potter's wheel, typically resulting in symmetrical forms like bowls. Handbuilding uses pinch, slab, and coil techniques to build pieces by hand, offering more flexibility and sculptural freedom.

When will my pottery pieces be ready for pickup after a class?

It takes 3–5 weeks to complete pieces made in class. Once they are ready, Throw Clay LA notifies you by email. Please pick them up promptly after notification to allow space for new work.

How long is a class or course?

One-Time Potter’s Wheel classes are 1 hour and 45 minutes. Six-week courses and One-Time Wheel & Handbuilding classes are two hours. Six-week courses are limited to 8 students for personalized instruction.

What should I wear to class?

Wear comfortable clothing you don’t mind getting clay on. Most clay washes out easily. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Long hair should be tied back, and jewelry removed for safety.

What is your cancellation policy?

One-Time Classes may be canceled or changed with at least 3 days’ notice. Six-Week Courses can be canceled up to 5 days before the start of the session for a refund (less transaction fees). Private Events require 10 days’ notice for a full refund or reschedule. Cancellations made closer to the event may be partially refunded or ineligible depending on timing.

Are my pottery pieces food, microwave, and dishwasher safe?

Yes. All pieces made and fired at Throw Clay LA are food safe, microwave safe, and dishwasher safe.

How much do members pay for firing?

For one-time classes and six-week courses, firing and glaze fees are included. For members, glaze firings are $1 per pound for pieces up to 14 inches, and $2 per pound for larger pieces. Bisque firing is free.

Can I bring my dog or pet to the studio?

Because studio work is fragile and moved frequently, pets are not allowed in the studio. Exceptions may be made for trained service animals with prior approval.

Inside Throw Clay LA: A Creative Community in Motion

Throw Clay LA
6 days ago
3 min read

Ko Mosley, a Multimedia Journalist with USC Annenberg Media, recently came to the studio to capture the energy, process, and people that make Throw Clay LA what it is.

An exterior view of the garage window looking into the classroom area of Throw Clay LA. — Looking into the studio from the street—where the process, the people, and the community come together. *Photo by Ko Mosley*

Throw Clay LA opened its doors in March 2020, at a time when most spaces were closing and people were pulling away from one another. The creative community that has grown since is the opposite: a place where people come together, learn something new, and build connections through making.

At its core, the studio is about access to clay and the process of learning how to work with it. One-time classes introduce the potter’s wheel and handbuilding, while six-week courses give students the time and repetition needed to build real skill. For those who want to go further, membership offers ongoing access to the studio and a community of makers working side by side.

An early morning view of the members' area with 20 potter's wheels in the large open studio. — The members’ area, where independent work and shared space come together. *Photo by Ko Mosley*

But what defines the space isn’t just the classes or the equipment. It’s the people who return week after week.

In his article, Mosley captured that experience from an outside perspective. In the piece, he describes Throw Clay LA as “a pillar of connection in the ceramics community,” shaped as much by the atmosphere as by the work being made.

That sense of connection shows up quickly. Conversations start over shared tools, questions about clay, or a piece on the wheel. What begins as a class often becomes something more.

As one member shared, “A place that feels safe and comfortable to explore our creativity… Having the clay here to discuss can start a conversation, and all of a sudden you make friends.”

A content member wedging clay on the plaster of Paris table in preperation for throwing pots. — Wedging clay is the first step—aligning the material, removing air, and getting it ready to throw. *Photo by Ko Mosley*

That dynamic is what keeps people coming back. The studio holds around 160 members, each working at their own pace, on their own projects, but within a shared environment that supports both learning and experimentation.

The process itself is visible everywhere. Shelves of work at different stages, from freshly thrown pieces to finished glaze-fired forms. Hands shaping clay on the wheel. Quiet focus at tables. Small moments of progress that build over time.

Pulling up the walls of pot on the potter's wheel with a bright orange bat. — Pulling up the walls on the wheel, using a sponge to control moisture and refine the surface. *Photo by Ko Mosley*

It’s not about producing perfect pieces. It’s about learning how to work with the material, understanding form, and developing confidence through practice and experimentation.

For anyone new to clay, the entry point is simple. Try a one-time class, get your hands on the wheel, and see what it feels like. From there, many choose to continue, building skills through longer courses or becoming part of the ongoing creative community.

If you’re curious, you can read Ko Mosley's full feature article here: Throw Clay LA: Meet The Heart Of Downtown LA's Ceramics Scene .

Whether you’re curious to try the wheel for the first time or ready to dive deeper,

Throw Clay LA offers one-time pottery classes, 6-week Build Skills introductory courses, 6-week Refine & Explore courses, and studio memberships.

As a member, explore our full range of cone 5/6 clay bodies, enjoy practice time in the studio, and connect with our creative community through free member clinics throughout the year.

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Inside Throw Clay LA: A Creative Community in Motion

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