Pottery
The Folk Art Guild pottery studio makes functional work designed to enhance the quality of everyday life, for eating, drinking, gathering flowers and making tea.
“I am in constant awe of the patterns, textures and rhythms of nature. I wish my work to reflect this as well as nature’s mystery; to let the clay dance in my hands and my body so that the clay and I become one. And when the user of these pots eats, drinks or arranges flowers, I hope they can experience this mystery and the sacredness of life in small daily rituals.”
— Artist’s Statement from the Rochester Folk Art Guild Pottery
Our Pottery
is primarily high fired stoneware, suitable for kitchen and table. Our glaze palette reflects the natural tones found in nature at the Guild over the seasons. Intricate carving, delicately pressed leaves and other surface decorations elevate functional items meant for regular use. Some of our work is fired in our wood-fired kiln, producing unique and beautiful finishes. We also make exquisite carved and decorated porcelain, and a low fired, highly burnished earthenware, fired using sawdust as fuel.
Our Studio
is housed in a spacious building with clerestory windows constructed in 1978. The studio has many unique design features including an exterior wall made of ceramic tiles in the style of Incan ruins, all made and mounted by the potters.
Education
We offer pottery lessons, apprenticeships, residencies and workshops, including the Guild’s annual Craft Weekend.
Many craftspeople have worked and studied in the Guild Pottery Studio over the decades. Many who started their journey in ceramics have gone on to become successful potters across the country including Renata Mastroti, Turiya Gross, Claire Willis, Nicole Hummel, Renata Wadsworth, Jenny Johnsrud, and Hailey Fair.
Find Our Work
Folk Art Guild Pottery is sold in East Hill Gallery, our Etsy, at various Craft Fairs, and Art Galleries and Craft shops around the region. Come find us at The Clothesline Art Festival, The Western NY Pottery Festival and others.
Meet Annie
Today, Annie Schliffer is the principal potter at the Guild. She has been living and working here since 1972. She also bakes sourdough bread for the resident community and events, and teaches Iyengar Yoga weekly. She makes functional work including mugs, bowls, plates, teapots, pitchers and occasionally sculptural work, large scale vases, platters, garden lanterns, and birdbaths. She takes custom orders for specific pieces, including dinnerware sets.
Meet Emma
Emma Silverstein is a resident potter at the Guild, producing sculptural figurines and functional pottery. She has lived and worked here since 2022 after several shorter residencies. She divides her time between pottery, the garden, the kitchen, and care of our herd of five Alpacas.
Join Us
Each season we welcome interns and residents to the pottery studio. We accept applications for internships, apprenticeships and residencies on a rolling basis.
