Pottery Classes in Oklahoma

Where to Find Pottery Classes in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City leads the state's pottery scene. Oklahoma Contemporary offers expert classes with special salt and soda kilns found nowhere else in the state. The House of Clay and Preacher Pottery provide hands-on wheel throwing for all ages. Meanwhile, Tulsa features Red Heat Ceramics with monthly First Friday events showcasing local artists. Norman hosts Color Me Mine for family-friendly pottery painting.

University towns shine bright too. Stillwater's Prairie Arts Center offers classes alongside Oklahoma State University's pottery programs. The town's annual Arts Festival includes live raku firing demonstrations where visitors can glaze their own bowls using ancient Japanese techniques.

Oklahoma Pottery Scene Today

Oklahoma's pottery tradition runs deep with Native American heritage. The Caddo Nation's Chase Kahwinhut Earles digs clay from Red River banks, just like his ancestors did centuries ago. Cherokee potter Anna Belle Mitchell earned "Cherokee National Living Treasure" status in 1982 for reviving traditional pottery in Oklahoma. She sources clay from Vinita ponds and uses wooden paddle-stamping methods passed down through generations.

The Choctaw call clay "Lukfi Nia," meaning "fat dirt." Their potters still mix mussel shell temper with native Oklahoma clay, following techniques used since 1050 AD. These living traditions connect modern Oklahoma potters to thousands of years of ceramic artistry.

Contemporary artists blend old and new. Jane Osti teaches Cherokee pottery in Tahlequah, saying "pottery tells the story of our people." Red Heat Ceramics hosts over 30 artists creating modern works while honoring ancestral methods. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City showcases how pottery represents Native American culture and traditions.

Today's pottery festivals celebrate this heritage. Stillwater's Arts Festival has featured pottery alongside music and food trucks since its start. The Nescatunga Arts Festival in Alva has brought together 150+ artists including potters every summer since 1969. These events keep Oklahoma's ceramic traditions alive while welcoming new artists to the craft.

From ancient Caddo techniques to modern studio classes, Oklahoma pottery connects past and present. The state's rich clay deposits and cultural heritage create a unique pottery landscape unlike anywhere else.