Where Clay Takes Shape
A public Ceramics Studio for Northern Virginia, offering hands-on classes, studio access, and professional facilities, serving the greater Washington, DC metro area.
A Center for Ceramics Education, Artmaking, and Community
Rooted in craft, creativity, and community, the Workhouse Ceramics Program connects traditional pottery techniques with contemporary ceramic practice. Through hands-on education, open studio access, artist opportunities, and public engagement, we invite artists and audiences to discover clay as a material for functional pottery, sculptural expression, and creative exploration.
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Our Studio is over 8,000 sq. ft. of space including:
800 sq. ft. Gallery
Two 464 sq. ft. Kiln Rooms
720 sq. ft. Clay & Glaze Labs
2,485 sq. ft. Classroom Space
Five 216 sq. ft. Resident Studios
2,581 sq. ft. Outdoor Kiln Yard
And equipped with:
26 Brent CXC wheels
8 electric kilns
2 Gas kilns
1 Raku Kiln
Large Paasche Spray Booth
Soldner Professional Clay Mixer
720 sq. ft. Glaze Lab
Peter Pugger VPM-60 Pugmill
Air King Filter Ventilation
Brent Coil Extruder
36” North Star Slab Roller
Classic Brent Slab Roller
Four 3ft x 8ft custom canvassed tables
290 student cubbies
90 student shelves
11 Bailey Ware Carts
8” Bench Grinder
8 utility/laundry sinks
2 slop sinks
Custom underground clay traps
Mop Sink
Men & Ladies’ restrooms
Kitchen/Break Room
2 office spaces
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Sitting at 800 sq. ft., our gallery is run and shared by our Resident Artists who sell and showcase their craft in the space. Our gallery will also on occasion, showcase a visiting artist’s work or a special exhibition with ceramic artists from around the region or nation.
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Our Studio is equipped with 20 student wheels and 6 resident wheels, all which are Brent’s highest model, the CXC’s.
In front of our student wheels sit 3 long benches that serve as helpful extra space for students while throwing, along with 2 drying stations and access to fans and blow dryers.
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Our Hand-Building stations include:
4 custom built 3ft x 8ft canvassed tables
a portable 3ft x 5ft canvassed table
a 3ft x 8ft wooden table on wheels.
a North Star 36” Super Series Slab Roller
a classic manual 20” x 55” Brent Slab Roller
and an Amaco Brent Coil Extruder
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Our glaze lab is a 360 sq. ft. space with full ventilation, where all our raw materials such as clay, frits, fluxes and glass formers, and everything on the periodic table are safely stored and mixed.
Our Studio is also equipped with a large insdustrial Paasche Spray Booth hooked up to a 32. gal air compressor.
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We currently offer Gas, Raku, and Electric atmospheric firings with wood and soda coming soon!
We have 2 kiln rooms that are each 464 sq. ft. and a 2,581 sq. ft. Kiln Yard!
Our Studio is equipped with:
3 1621-PK Skutts
3 1231-PK Skutts
a 1027-3” Skutt
a 16’ Frederickson Front-Loader
an intermediate Laguna Raku kiln
a custom barrel Raku kiln
a 32 cu. ft. Bailey Gas kiln
a DD9 Olympic Gas kiln
and upcoming wood and soda kilns in the near future!
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Our Clay Room is a 360 sq. ft. fully ventilated space where all our clays are stored and recycled.
In this space, we house a pugmill, the legendary and top-model Peter Pugger VPM-60, along with a soldner professional mixer.
We currently carry Laguna B-Mix 5, Standard 306 Brown, and Standard 553 buff as class clays, with some soldate and 213 porcelain for sale/or special classes.
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Our Ceramics Store stocks and sells all the basic essential tools needed for wheel-throwing or hand-building.
Ceramics Assistants or Volunteers get a 10% discount on clay and kiln rental.
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Our open studio is a complimentary service to our students. It is a free time for students to come in and practice without instruction and the times range anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on the day and class/workshop occurrence.
Classes & Workshops
Explore Ceramics through hands-on classes and workshops at Workhouse Arts Center. From wheel-throwing to hand-building, surface decoration, and glaze chemistry, our programs offer accessible pathways for beginners and continuing artists alike. Learn new skills, build confidence in the studio, and discover what ceramics can become.
Exhibitions & Calls for Artists
Discover contemporary ceramics through exhibitions, featured artists, and public displays at Workhouse Arts Center. The Ceramics Program supports opportunities for artists to share functional, sculptural, and experimental ceramics with the community. Explore upcoming exhibitions, calls for artists, and ways to participate in our growing ceramic arts program.
Residency Program & Assistantships
The Workhouse Ceramics Program supports a creative community of resident artists, studio artists, assistants, interns, and emerging arts professionals. Residency, assistantship, and internship opportunities help artists build skills through studio practice, program support, education, maintenance, and community engagement. Availability may vary based on studio space, program needs, and current opportunities.
STUDIO HOURS
SUNDAY - SATURDAY: 9AM - 10PM (when classes are in session)
2ND SATURDAYS: 9AM - 9PM, Open House & Meet the Artists
CLASSROOM
KILN YARD
GLAZE LAB
GLAZE AREA
BAILEY GAS KILN
LAGUNA RAKU KILN
FULL KILN RENTALS
*Half Kiln/per shelving prices available
KM-1027-3"$85 bisque$115 GLAZE
km-1231PK$115 bisque$145 GLAZE
km-1627pk$195 bisque$255 glaze
Frederickson$225 bisque$295 glaze
bailey gas 32$345 glaze
laguna raku$120 up to 4 hours (+$20 every additional hour)$50 for 2 hours
GALLERY
NEW SPACE COMING SOON!
We are extending into another 2,000+ sq. ft. space on campus to host more classes, workshops, students, and opportunities!