Pottery Studio

MudFire is a privately-owned studio. Our new studio is in a pair of extensively renovated warehouses in Decatur. With over 7,500 square feet of studio, gallery, kilns, and event room...all well lit with tons of natural light from 10' x 10' windows and skylights. Open noon to evening, MudFire is an all day open studio, fully equipped to provide hobby, part-time, student, and professional potters and sculptors the opportunity to be outrageously creative.

Clay is a wonderful medium through which to express yourself. From the very beginning, you can do no wrong - but you can spend a lifetime getting it just right. Come in, get dirty, make friends, meet your neighbors, make functional gifts or completely dysfunctional objects d'art for yourself. All equipment, glazes, instruction and firings are included in your membership.

Keep in mind that making pottery or sculpture from wet clay is an exciting process that involves several steps, multiple kiln firings and requires some drying time. It takes at least two weeks of love from start to finish for each piece to be realized. That's why we don't have a one-time visit option.

The good news is its only $99 to give it a try for a month! You'll have plenty of time in your first month to try wheel-thrown and handbuilt pottery, and sculpture.

You're gonna love how this stuff feels in your hands!

Pottery & Sculpture Equipment

The center is furnished with top-of-the-line equipment, including 14 electric Brent C and Shimpo Whisper wheels, spacious handbuilding stations, a slab roller, spray booth, photo booth, sculpture stands and extruder. There are hundreds of hand tools, a large selection of brushes and even a reading lounge with pottery books and video tapes. We have three large electric kilns, raku kilns, and a huge gas reduction kiln...allowing us to offer a reliable firing schedule, ensuring that your bone-dry and bisque pieces are always ready quickly.

Ceramic Glazes

Over 50 different glazes, 20 or more underglazes and a variety of stains, slips and engobes are provided and rotated frequently. Members' requests for testing out a recipe they know and love are usually accomodated within a few days. If it works out and everyone loves it, we'll add it to the palette.

Pottery & Sculpture Classes

Although there are no scheduled classes at MudFire, beginners are welcome. Staff are on hand to provide one-on-one handbuilding and throwing guidance as part of your membership. We want you to come here whenever the muse strikes you. Our set-up encourages learning. Come in several times a week, a few hours each time and you'll be well on your way. It's like a gym with a bunch of personal trainers on duty all the time. Pay our monthly fee, and you can stroll in for a lesson any time its convenient for you.

We also host local and nationally known artists in a variety of workshops. Learn new techniques and open up to wild new ideas!