Artisan Pottery Studio
Handcrafted ceramics born from fire, clay, and decades of devoted practice. Each piece carries the quiet story of its making.
23
Years of craft
400+
Unique pieces
1,200
Students taught
"Every vessel finds its voice"
Featured Works
Each piece is wheel-thrown or hand-built, glazed with recipes developed over decades in our kiln room.
Celadon Moon Jar
Stoneware · 2024
River Stone Bowl
Earthenware · 2024
Morning Ritual Set
Porcelain · 2023
In the Making
Process · 2024
Kyoto Trio
Stoneware · 2023
Moss Glaze Dinner Plate
Stoneware · 2024
Raku Tea Caddy
Raku-fired · 2023
Curated Sets
12 pieces
A complete dining set in muted ash glaze. Plates, bowls, cups — designed for daily rituals and unhurried meals.
8 pieces
Outdoor planters and vases with raw, unglazed exteriors. They age with weather, growing more beautiful each season.
6 pieces
Sculptural forms for display — moon jars, bud vases, and tea bowls in celadon and tenmoku glazes.
Scroll to explore
Hands in Clay
6-week course
From centering clay to pulling walls — a thorough introduction for beginners. You'll take home your first fired pieces by week four.
$380
Reserve SpotWeekend intensive
A thrilling one-day immersion in the Japanese raku tradition. Pull glowing pots from the kiln, watch the glazes crackle and bloom.
$160
ReserveSingle session
Coil and pinch techniques to create unique planters. Perfect for a creative afternoon — no wheel experience needed.
$85
ReservePrivate sessions and gift certificates available.
Inquire about private workshops →
23
Years at the wheel
About the Potter
I first touched clay at seventeen in my grandmother's garden studio in Kyoto. That moment — the cool, yielding earth between my palms — set the direction of my entire life. After apprenticing with master potter Takeshi Matsumoto for five years, I returned home to build Kiln & Clay.
My work draws from the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi — finding beauty in imperfection, honoring process over perfection. Every piece that leaves this studio carries the fingerprints of its making, the evidence of human hands and natural fire.
Trained in Kyoto, Japan
Featured in American Craft
Gas & wood-fired kilns
Student Stories
Maren Kowalski
Wheel student, 2023
"I signed up for six weeks and stayed for three years. Elena doesn't just teach technique — she teaches you how to listen to the clay. My Saturday mornings at Kiln & Clay are sacred now."
James Torres
Raku workshop
"The raku firing was one of the most visceral art experiences of my life. Watching the glaze crackle in the reduction bin — pure magic."
Suki Nakamura
Hand-building class
"My grandmother was a potter in Mashiko. Elena's approach reminds me of her philosophy — patient, unhurried, letting the material lead. I felt connected to something bigger."
Get in Touch
We welcome visitors by appointment. Come see the kiln room, browse available pieces, or discuss a custom commission. We'd love to hear from you.
Studio Location
42 Riverstone Lane, Portland, OR 97201
Studio Hours
Tue–Sat, 10am – 6pm
hello@kilnandclay.studio
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