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We are so happy to announce the reopening of Mud Matters in mid-January 2022!

Mud Matters will be offering courses for potters of every level — from total beginners to those who have practiced for many years. Our courses are longer in length and smaller in size. Clay, glazes and tools are included and practice sessions can be reserved throughout the week. Our teaching staff is stellar, with several returning artists and some fresh faces. Our faculty have myriad experiences to share and inspire. See our class schedule »

Safety and health remain a top priority for us. Proof of vaccination and mask wearing are required for everyone entering the studio. 

We invite anyone interested in becoming a studio member to join our sister studio, La Mano Pottery, on 26th Street in Chelsea. Studio Membership is for people with previous clay experience who want to work independently. Contact us if you are interested in studio membership at La Mano.

For over 20 years, we have been the proud owners of pottery studios. It has been our mission to foster a welcoming environment where creative individuals can produce beautiful one-of-a-kind ceramic work and enjoy the challenges and rewards of working with clay. As ceramic artists, we work alongside our students and friends. We feel immensely blessed by the community and the work we do

We invite you to become involved in our studios and to discover or rediscover the magic of working with clay.

Yours in mud,
Julie and Peggy
Co-Owners

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Most of you are aware that we announced the closure of Mud Matters due to the devastating financial impact of the extended pandemic on our businesses. In December, it was painfully clear that we could no longer afford the high expenses of keeping the studio running with such restrictions necessary for the safety of our customers.  

During January, our students and members who had recently returned finished up their work and we said some very sad goodbyes to so many wonderful friends and customers. We finished firing the kilns and cleared out all the pottery. We sold a lot of equipment. This impending closure was such a tragic event for us, for all of you, and for the Hell's Kitchen community and beyond. We received so many nice messages — including from a studio in New Zealand — telling us what the studio has meant to them and lamenting (along with us) the closure.

But good fortune shined on Mud Matters in its final hours. AND we are pleased to report that, while Mud Matters will indeed be closed for studio and studio member work, we will be back in January 2022. In the meanwhile, we managed to sublease the space and nearly all of our equipment to a pair of ceramic artists who will use the space as a production studio.  

This temporary reprieve from the financial burdens of running a full service community studio during the pandemic is such welcome news.  

We hope you will keep in touch with us and watch for announcements of our re-opening. In the meanwhile, please consider supporting La Mano Pottery by joining as a studio member or a student. We hope to continue to operate at the current modified level and, as covid-restrictions loosen, we intend to bring back more courses and studio time.  

Sending you our very best wishes for your safety and health. We look forward to sharing many creative hours with you and others in the future.

See you soon,
Diane, Julie and Peggy
Co-Owners
Mud Matters 

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We are happy to share that the studio will be reopening on October 1st. Things will be different of course, but the changes will actually help you focus on your clay work by giving you more space and less distractions. In order to create a safe studio environment, masks will be required, access to the studio will be limited to 8 people at a time (by appointment), wheels and work tables have been arranged at least 6 feet apart, and air filtration and exhaust measures have been put in place. Please note: Courses are suspended until at least January 2021. Stay tuned for updates.

If you are interested in joining as a member, please contact us using the email form on our Contact page »

Monthly Studio Membership is $300 and includes:

  • use of a designated studio area (throwing, hand building, glazing) for up to 6 hours a week (24 hours a month)
  • 3 hour sessions pre scheduled through an online calendar
  • a roomy, clean personal studio space
  • a dedicated shelf for tools and works in progress
  • use of clay and studio glazes
  • use of cone 5-6 commercial glazes 
  • technical support via FaceTime/phone
  • classes/meetings/workshops
  • discussions via Zoom on selected topics 
  • firing fees will remain at 5 cents per cubic inch (to cover both bisque and glaze firings)
  • we ask for an intention of at least a 3 month membership

Monthly Work At Home Membership is $150 and includes: 

  • technical support via FaceTime/phone
  • classes/meetings/workshops
  • discussions via Zoom on selected topics 
  • option to purchase clay from the studio
  • firing fees will remain at 5 cents per cubic inch (to cover both bisque and glaze firings)
  • use of cone 5-6 commercial glazes 
  • scheduled glazing sessions (3 hour time slots) are $40 (no additional drop-off fee)
  • we ask for an intention of at least a 3 month membership (can be converted to an in studio membership if space is available)

If you are interested in joining as a member, please contact us using the email form on our Contact page »

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November 17, 2019
10–1pm

Precious metal clay, or silver clay, is made of pure silver mixed with water and an organic binding agent. You can mold it into an endless number of shapes and designs. When fired, the binding agent burns off, resulting in original fine silver jewelry—99.9% pure.

Learn the basics of how to work with silver clay in our introductory workshop. This 3 hour session covers rolling, stamping, and other methods of creating texture and all the finishing techniques you will need. Pieces will be fired during the workshop, so you can wear your creation home that day. The price of the workshop is $90 (cost of clay not included).

Take additional workshops at our studio at a discounted rate of $75 and be able to work independently. You can continue to use your new skills to make, fire, and finish other one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, and have a teacher available for assistance.

After you have taken your first workshop, we also offer the option to “rent” the kiln for $50. Bring us what you have made at home with PMC3 and we will fire the pieces for you. Turn around time is one week. Precious metal clay can be purchased at Mud Matters ($50 for 15g and $75 for 25g packet).

Participants must be 18 or older. You can register online!

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Friday, October 18, 5:30–8:30pm
at La Mano Pottery, 110 W 26th Street

Join us at our sister studio, La Mano, for our annual Oktoberfest party and sale. Purchase a handmade mug, cup, or stein, and we’ll fill it up with beer, hard cider, and root beer. It's a great way to get a head start on your holiday shopping—everyone loves mugs! Hope to see you there.