Fatclay Pottery moved to Castle Road a few weeks ago but has its official launch on Friday the 12th of July. Having only been in the premises for a short time, the team have settled there quickly.
Friday sees 12 ceramicists bring their collections together to showcase the studio and workshop space. Lynn Nicholls, Suzanne Robbins and Vasu Reddy will be part of this exciting launch. Artists will be displaying new work at Fatclay including Andrew Foster and Sally Tyrie.
The studio said about the launch, “Our opening exhibition marks the beginning of an exciting journey—a journey of discovery, collaboration, and artistic exploration.
“We embark on this adventure together, celebrating the rich tapestry of talent that defines our pottery community.”
I caught up with Matt who is the founder of Fatclay to ask him a few questions about the new space and what the public can look forward to there.
Hi Matt, thanks for taking the time to talk to me.
Why did you want to do pottery? How did it start?
I first got a taste for ceramics at art school in Malta. Like most people I had a bit of extra time on my hands during the lockdown months, so I dedicated as much of it as possible to perfecting my skills on the potter’s wheel. It reminded me why I was originally drawn to the creative arts in the first place – I was hooked.
What do you think makes people love this lump of clay so much and want to create things with it?
I think people love the feeling of making something with their hands, that incomparable combination of the tangible and textural. The possibilities of what can be made with a lump of clay are endless and to be able to sit back and admire something you have created yourself is really something special.
How can people get involved with Fatclay who have never tried this hobby before?
At Fatclay Pottery we cater for all levels, whether you’re a seasoned professional or a complete novice we have it covered. From six-week foundation courses to one-off taster sessions (we can not be held liable for the pottery fever from this point onwards)!
All our sessions are led by talented tutors who are there to guide you on your ceramics journey.
What makes Fatclay different from other ceramic studios in the city?
We are located on a vibrant street in the heart of Southsea where we are not only a functioning ceramics studio with open access to members but also lucky enough to be able to showcase and sell our own ceramics from the Gallery space as well as a variety of other talented artists.
Having recently moved the studio from a local community centre it is great to be part of the everyday hustle and bustle of a busy street.
What are you looking forward to when you do the launch on the 12th July?
To hopefully see all the hard work pay off, to finally see a long-term dream of ours (Myself and Emily) turn into a reality! Collaboration and supporting other local artists is massively important to us at Fatclay Pottery and we can’t wait to bring together a wealth of talent to be celebrated during our launch weekend.
Make sure to pop by the studio and see what the fuss is about. There is a fabulous showroom area where local ceramicist’s work is available to buy. The first exhibition will stay on site and you can visit between Wednesday and Sunday 11am until 4pm.
