Pottery is one of the most rewarding activities you can do to express your creativity and support your mental wellness. Working with your hands and shaping clay into free-formed objects or usable homeware is intensely gratifying - especially when you see your finished product at the end.
Montreal happens to be one of the most beautiful cities in which you can explore the art of poetry. The city is the second-most populous city in Canada with important French colonial history dating back to the 16th century. Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking city globally, after Paris, and it's built around Mont-Royal, which the city was named after.
"Montrealers," or residents of Montreal, are largely multilingual because of its French and English roots and culturally diverse population. Interestingly, the city boasts the highest number of restaurants per Capita in the country- which is great fun if you are looking to enjoy an evening after pottery class with some friends. Its restaurant scene is very international with menus from literally around the world, with an often added French touch for its locals.
People that are interested in taking up pottery classes will find no shortage of opportunities to explore hand building techniques or working at the wheel. Known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, Montrealers love to create.
See if you would like to learn pottery skills in Halifax.
Where are the Best Places to Learn Pottery in Montreal?
Montreal is home to a number of new and established pottery studios where you can take classes, practice your craft on a regular basis, or engage in unique pottery events. Here are a handful of some of the most fantastic studios in Montreal’s thriving creative arts scene. They will accommodate novice to advanced potters, so don’t feel shy if you have never tried the potter’s wheel!
Take Pottery Classes at Atelier Spirale Ceramic Studio
This pottery studio is located at 5333 Casgrain Ave Suite 804 in Montreal, Quebec. Classes offer straightforward, easy-to-learn methods of pottery learning and its various techniques. Class times are as follows:
- Mondays, 7pm-10pm
- Tuesdays: 1pm-4pm and 7pm-10pm
- Wednesdays: 7pm-10pm
- Thursdays: 7pm-10pm
Mahmoud Baghaeian is the founder of Atelier Spirale, and is an experienced potter with years of experience. The studio is family friendly, includes classes for kids, and has monthly memberships. Members of the studio have access to the studio all day from Monday to Saturday.
Atelier Spirale also offers kiln services, and has a wide range of kilns potters can use to fire their pieces for a reasonable fee. Be sure to check the site for prices, hours, and class times.
Make Pottery at Marées Céramiques
Marées Céramiques is a studio located at 3333, crémazie est in Montreal. You can find a variety of classes for novice and experienced potters, such as:
- 8 week throwing course
- Introduction to Pottery
- Handbuilding
- Private Workshops
Membership is also available to artists and potters in a light-filled, welcoming space for a reasonable price. Hours vary.
Learn Pottery at Atelier Make Studio
Atelier Make is a unique studio that was setup by Maya Ersan and Jaime Robinson. It is located at 1241 Rue Gilford, Montreal. The shop is open from 12-4pm Tuesday to Sunday, and class times will vary depending on the session. Pottery novices and enthusiasts will find hand building and wheel classes for students of all ages in French and English.
Open studio times are also available for potters that want to create on their own terms. You can also book private workshops for events like birthday parties or team building sessions.
Prospective students can choose from the classes described below.
Wheel Throwing Level 1 & 2
Wheel throwing classes cost $355, and they run for six weeks at three hours per week with materials included. In this class, you will learn the skills vital for working on the wheel: wedging and centring the clay and making little vessels on the wheel. The projects will include small bowls, cups, and mugs.
The second level class is intended for students who already possess a strong base in working with the wheel. In this class, you will work on more challenging and polished forms. You will learn to reproduce various forms to work in a series and to make lids and spouts.
A $100 deposit is required to reserve a place in the pottery class of the studio. Students can then pay the balance after the first class.
Hand-building
Hand-building is the primary technique used by the designers at Atelier Make. This hand-building class introduces participants to the techniques of slab building. In addition to learning vital technical skills required to create with clay, students will develop six exciting projects from beginning to end. Projects include small plates and platters, cups and mugs—a maximum of ten students per group. A deposit of $100 plus tax is required to reserve a place in this hand-building class.
Private Classes and Workshops
With these many options for learning, you would think we are done, but just not yet! They provide lesson packages for families with project kits that can be delivered and sent to the comfort of your home. It comes with instructions and step by step guide to learning pottery techniques.
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Projects include mini-masks/animal heads, a salt dish with a spoon, a small platter, 1 -2 cups or mugs, and a small pitcher. Their classes are bilingual, with French or English used in teaching. Here's how it works: in a delivery containing, your project-kit would be taken to your home in advance of the first class.
The Atelier Make team will teach you the process of firing your pottery pieces and glaze them with a transparent glaze. Then contact you when your pieces are ready to pick up between 3-4 weeks after drop off. So convenient, right?
Their private classes are engineered to provide a hands-on experience with clay to students of any level. Each class is 2-hours in length and is personalized to fit the level of the student. Private lessons are held on a reservation basis, and payment must be made in advance for the class. Refunds are made available within 72 hours of cancellation notice. As for prices, they are:
- A 2-hour class for 2 people $225 plus tax
- 2-hour class for 3 people $275 plus tax
- 2-hour class for 4 people $325 plus tax
A private workshop costs $500 (plus tax) for up to 8 people with tools and materials included. Also, a $100 reservation deposit is required.
From the Maritimes to the West Coast, there are numerous places in Canada to build your pottery skills.
Explore Classes and Workshops at Atelier Forma
Atelier Forma is a chic pottery studio with two locations in Rosemont (6918 Rue Fabre) and another in the Plateau (4561 St-Laurent). They have a wide array of pottery classes, workshops, and studio memberships for potters that want space to create.
Opening hours at Rosemont are:
- Monday - 12pm-3pm & 6pm-9pm
- Friday - 3pm-6pm
- Saturday - 10am-1pm
- Sunday - 10am-3pm
Opening hours at Plateau are:
- Monday-Thursday 12pm-4pm
- Friday - 12pm-7pm
- Saturday and Sunday - 9am-noon
Take note that classes times are different from opening hours; consult the website for class times.
Classes at Atelier Forma include:
- Wheel Throwing
- Functional Ceramics
- Short session wheel throwing
- Short session functional ceramics
- The studio also has an intriguing selection of single session workshops, such as:
- Intro to Wheel Throwing
- Plant and Planter Workshop
- Kuruniki Workshop
- Mug and Plate Handbuilding
Learn with Experts at Studio Alexandria
Studio Alexandria is a pottery studio located at 99 Rue Channel Ouest. The studio welcomes students in a large communal work area, a fully stocked glaze kitchen, ventilated kiln room, and basic ceramic tools.
Operating since 2001, Studio Alexandra is an established pottery studio with veteran artists. The studio primarily supports practicing potters and ceramists. Contact the studio for classes and hours.
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Develop your Craft at L’Atelier Alumni Céramique
This studio is located in Montreal’s Rosemont neighbourhood at 5500 Rue Fullum. Founded in 2016 by Marko Savard, the studio is positioned as a place of sharing, creation, research, and production of functional and sculptural ceramic pieces. The studio has 12 members who work out of the space, and classes are offered for students. Classes include:
- Filming
- Shaping
- Apero-Ceramiques
- Coaching
Studio hours vary depending on the class.
Explore your Inner Artist at Mie Kim Ceramic Studio
Mie Kim Ceramic studio is open by appointment only. The studio offers a 1 day introduction course to clay throwing, a 2 week introduction course on throwing and trimming, and a 6 week I depth course that covers all topics.
Mie Kim offers her expertise as an international artist with a focus on nature and cultural reverence. Her work is sold all over the world, though you can also purchase pieces from her online shop. If you have an appreciation for pottery as a form of artistic expression, her studio may be the one for you.
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Get Inspired at Atelier Cone10
Cone10 is a studio with Mexican roots located at 3941 Rue St. Denis. The studio offers a shop, classes for students at all levels, and firing services. Cone10 is run by a team of multidisciplinary artists that share a passion for pottery. The studio is named for the practice of firing ceramics at 1285 degrees celsius, also known as "cone10 firing". Studio hours vary depending on classes, so call first before making a visit!
Cone10 offers classes in the following areas:
- Intro to Wheel Throwing
- Independent Practice
- Kintsugi
- Handbuilding
- Guided Practice
- Sculpture
Immerse Yourself in Pottery at Les Faiseurs
Les Faiseurs is a cafe and pottery studio all mixed together. You can drink your coffee in a handmade mug, and then make your own in a class!
This studio has a unique and fun approach to learning pottery. You can paint a handmade piece created by a local artist while enjoying your coffee, or take a pottery class. Class offerings include
- Introduction to Shaping
- Ceramics and Candles
- Shaping Workshop
- Intermediate Level Pottery
- Parent and Child Workshops
The studio is open every day from 9am-6pm, and is located at 6564 Boulevard St-Laurent.
Learn at Le Chat Pompette
Le Chat Pompette is located at 4484 Rue Fabre. Hours vary depending on classes, so call first before visiting. Pottery classes are available for all ages and levels. You can learn:
- Sandstone Clay
- Filming
- Turning
- Cooking
- Glazing
Take a Private Pottery Class
If heading to a studio does not fit with your schedule, consider taking pottery lessons with a private instructor at Superprof. Superprof is a site with listings of pottery instructors that can work with you individually to help you meet your artistic or creative goals at a time that makes sense for you.
Visit the Superprof site to learn more about taking private pottery classes!
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