Nestled deep in the lush village of Parkview, Johannesburg this little pottery studio was born of ‘moonshine’ during hard lockdown.
Envisaging ‘something else’, I dreamed of a place that people could come together and make beautiful things, leaving the stress and strain of everyday life outside the front door. When we started venturing outside again I started small weekend workshops for children and invited friends to sit with full mugs of coffee and buckets of clay and make. Pour out the trauma of the past few years, and make it into something beautiful and real.
We started getting bigger and I had to acquire kilns and more tables. And chairs…. And still we kept growing, so we needed a studio, a space filled with sunlight and comfort with the sound of the go away birds welcoming us in. And here we are today. A studio, a small community. All making that one lovely thing that keeps our heart full and the chaos at bay.
I’m a mum of three gorgeous boys who are growing WAY too quickly and the only way I could feel I wasn’t missing so much of their lives was to leave the beast of corporate and spend more time with them. Pick them up from school, listen to their hearts while we drove from one extra mural to another, feed their ‘never full’ bellies and sit down with them while they did their homework.
I have my degree in Theatre and Stage from Wits and creativity has always been a strong part of who I am. I’ve worked around the world designing events and homes and spaces. I love words, so I somehow worked that all into a Marketing and Digital Strategy career.
Pottery has been something I have always just done as a hobby. But a solid hobby that I started when I was 18 years old. It’s probably the thing I have done the longest in my life, so when taking a long hard look at my life, the only thing that jumped up was ‘play with clay more’. When some friends asked me to teach their kids as a favour one school holiday, I jumped at the chance to run pottery classes in Johannesburg from my very own Parkview studio. Hang out at home, on my stoep, drink tea and make pottery with kids… what could be better?
Sarah Steel is an exhibiting ceramic artist who chooses to work in clay as it not only offers her a medium but also a way to ground herself. Clay is soothing and meditative and all her work focuses around the botanical and natural world that is found on her regular hikes.
“Working with clay allows me to work through emotions and find my centre. I love seeing my fingerprints and marks in the clay, whether intentional or accidental. It connects me to the inspiration of the time as well as the actual piece. When walking in the mountains or forests or places of natural beauty, I am able to breathe through the crazy of life and I want to encapsulate those moments into the permanence of ceramics “
Weekly pottery classes for both adults and children. Spaces fill quickly, so booking in advance is essential to secure your spot.
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Personalised creative retreats hosted in and around Southern Africa.
Annual retreats are loaded quarterly on the website
Corporate Team building events can be booked at the studio. From small intimate teams to larger groups, we are able to cater for all.
Private events can be booked at The Fragile Pottery Co. Children’s birthdays, adults birthdays, bachelorette parties. We cater to everyone.
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We bring the pottery studio to you! Our mobile classes let learners explore creativity and make meaningful ceramic pieces right at school.
A hands-on, story-inspired pottery experience for children. Each session includes shaping their own clay creation based on a fun and imaginative theme.
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Queer Clay Pottery Classes are a joyful, inclusive space where queer-minded folks can come together to create, connect, and make clay magic. Whether you're brand new to pottery or a seasoned handbuilder, all are welcome — no experience needed!
🫶 What We Offer:
A safe, affirming space for LGBTQIA+ creatives
All clay, tools, glazes, and firings included
We focus on handbuilt ceramics which is grounding, expressive, intuitive, and such fun!
Private classes and workshops available for special events or small groups
📍Location: Parkview
📆 Days: Mondays & Thursdays
⏰ Time: 17:30–20:30
✨ Come as you are and leave with connections, confidence, and a little bit of queer clay magic.
For enquiries, please click on the button below and I will
respond to your message at my earliest convenience.
I look forward to welcoming you to my studio!
