Studio pottery shines in Chennai as more working professionals turn artists

Discover Chennai’s growing studio pottery scene of creators and collectors alike

The overarching sentiment that coloured Chennai’s first-ever studio potters’ market was that of surprise. So much so, that an elderly gentleman loudly exclaimed, “I did not know there were so many pottery artists in Chennai!” while waiting for a set of tableware, neatly wrapped in newspaper, to take home.

Most buyers at the two-day packed market, held in Apparao Galleries last month, shared similar feelings. Spontaneous orders, and happy exchanges of business cards quickly followed.

The market, which brought 21 studio potters under one roof was a window to Chennai’s burgeoning studio pottery ecosystem that has been seeing a steady rise of entrants in the last three years. While pottery is often associated with Auroville thanks to Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith’s pioneering institution Golden Bridge Pottery, not too far away, Chennai is waking up to a quiet wave of creators and collectors alike.

“The ceramic scene has been booming since the advent of Covid. Our country is full of people who have never done pottery before, and are suddenly discovering that even on a small balcony, you can set up an electric kiln, buy some clay and glazes, and make and fire pots!” says Adil Writer, a seasoned ceramic artist and painter based in Auroville. “Everybody is riding the ‘handmade’ or ‘Made in India’ wave right now. The interest has shot up in both making and purchasing,” he adds.

Studio pottery is different from traditional pottery — while the former usually has a narrative and is experimental in outlook, traditional potters focus on utility and often come with the skills passed down generations. India has many potter communities who are yet to break into the mainstream.

Studio pottery is now more than just a hobby coloured by the pandemic, as young artists pick up the skill in the hope of pursuing a career in clay. Sculptures, ceramic murals, and custom decor pieces, apart from functional ware are all part of their ever-evolving repertoire. Not to mention potters’ markets, now common across the country, enable young and upcoming artists to travel with their wares.

For most novices, the scope for play that the medium offers is the initial motivator. Gowri Natarajan of GN Studio Pottery that opened in early 2020 says, “I was working in a bank. But I really craved to create something with my hands. The first thing I had in mind was carpentry.” Over the pandemic, following a personal loss, Gowri dove into the medium of clay.