Ceramic classes
Slow, technically grounded ceramic practice in Zürich
Clay & Tao is designed for those who wish to build a meaningful relationship with clay over time. More than a place to make objects, the studio offers the conditions to develop a personal ceramic practice — one grounded in technical learning, artistic sensitivity and attentive engagement with material.
In small groups of up to four participants, hand-building, wheel throwing and glaze exploration are approached as both craft and reflective discipline. Each session supports continuity, confidence and a deeper understanding of process.
A quiet studio for creative recalibration
Set in a light-filled space surrounded by large trees, Clay & Tao functions as a discreet refuge within the city. Slightly removed from urban intensity, the studio supports a different rhythm of attention — one that encourages stillness, concentration and embodied awareness.
Here, working with clay becomes less about production and more about inhabiting a process: listening to material, gesture and form as they unfold over time.
Flexible learning with real follow-up
Unlike fixed-term courses or unguided open studios, Clay & Tao proposes a flexible format based on class packs that can be used according to individual rhythm and availability.
With only four participants per session, the studio allows for sustained personal guidance and meaningful technical progression. Participants are supported in developing both practical skills and a personal visual language, rather than following a standardised curriculum.
Technical rigour and material intelligence
Ceramics at Clay & Tao is approached with seriousness and care. Wheel throwing is taught through a slower, ergonomic methodology that prioritises stability, structural precision and refined form-making. This approach draws in part on the work of ceramic artist Joëlle Swanet, whose research emphasises breath, posture and attentive movement rather than force.
Rarely taught in Zürich, this methodology supports both technical confidence and a more embodied relationship to the wheel.
The studio maintains an ongoing engagement with glaze formulation, firing processes and material behaviour. Glazes are developed through research and experimentation, with attention to durability, aesthetic coherence and food safety. Professional ventilation and responsible studio practices form an integral part of the working environment.
Artistic sensitivity and curatorial perspective
Drawing on a background in contemporary art and curatorial practice, Clay & Tao approaches ceramics as both craft and visual language. Attention is given to proportion, rhythm, surface and spatial presence, supporting participants in cultivating a deeper relationship to their own creative process.
This artistic framework encourages ceramics to be experienced not only as a skill, but as a way of thinking and perceiving.
Ceramics informed by rhythm and cycles
The studio’s approach is subtly informed by Taoist understandings of transformation, balance and cyclical change. Seasonal workshops structured around the five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal and water — offer participants opportunities to engage with ceramic processes in dialogue with natural rhythms.
These moments create a broader context for making, connecting technical exploration with temporal awareness.
A practice that unfolds over time
Clay & Tao is conceived as a place of continuity rather than consumption. Many participants discover that working with clay gradually reshapes their relationship to pace, attention and creative confidence.
Over time, ceramics becomes not only a skill, but a sustained practice that supports both artistic development and a more grounded way of inhabiting everyday life.
Tao Alignment
For those wishing to deepen their experience beyond the studio, Tao Alignment consultations offer complementary perspectives on timing, environment and personal cycles.
Our next events
FAQs
-
At Clay & Tao, the courses are tailored to you:
If you’d like a structured program, I’ll design one for you — with step-by-step guidance, exercises, and tracked progress to help you grow steadily as a maker.
If you prefer to explore freely, the studio also welcomes that approach. You’ll always have the space, materials, and gentle support when (and if) you need it.
Many students choose something in between — starting with some structure, then gradually exploring at their own rhythm.
Techniques available include hand modeling, glaze experimentation, pit firing, and wheel throwing, all adapted to your pace and interests
-
Booking is simple and flexible:
Use our Zoom link (provided on the website’s booking page).
Choose your preferred arrival time.
Select the length of your session — 2, 3, or 4 hours.
This allows you to shape your creative time in the studio according to your own schedule.
-
Plans Changed? No Problem!
Cancel up to 24-48 hours in advance (depending on your pack). Hectic week? Just reschedule! -
Love regular sessions? Friends of Clay & Tao is for you (limited spots!).
Prefer flexibility? Grab a 10 or 20 pack and drop in when it suits you.
Want to deepen your skills in an intensive workshop? Saturday 6 hours intensive workshop is the answer!
Just testing the waters? Pay by the hour!
We believe in building long-term relationships — and that’s why the more you engage, the more you save.
Up to 10 hours: CHF 47/hour
10 to 20 hours: CHF 42.60/hour
Over 20 hours: CHF 36.40/hour
Enjoy the best price for the highest quality of guidance, teaching, and experience.
-
Our courses are held in German/English/French or Italian depending on the students wishes.
-
1. Shaping (Hand Building or Wheel Throwing)
This is the creative stage where you form your piece out of soft clay. Techniques may include hand modeling (slab, coil, pinch) or wheel throwing for more symmetrical forms.
Time: at least 2 hours
2. Leather-Hard Stage & Finishing Touches
As the clay begins to dry, it reaches a leather-hard stage—firm but still workable. This is the perfect time to refine the shape, smooth surfaces, and add decorations like textures or engobes (liquid clay mixed with pigments).
Reaching this stage naturally can take 1–5 days, depending on the clay body and weather conditions.
However, with a little help from a hair dryer, you can speed up the process and finish your work in a single session.
3. Drying (Bone Dry Stage)
Once all finishing is done, the piece must fully dry before firing. At the bone-dry stage, the clay is fragile and chalky—ready for the kiln.
Drying can take several more days/weeks depending on thickness and conditions.
4. Bisque Firing (First Firing)
The dry clay is fired in the kiln at about 980°C, turning it into solid ceramic. This makes the piece stronger, porous, and ready for glazing.
This is known as "bisque" or "biscuit" firing.
5. Glazing or Painting – What’s the Difference?
After the bisque firing, your ceramic piece is ready for decoration—but glazing and painting are two different approaches, each with its own effect.
Glazing involves applying a glass-like coating (liquid glaze) that melts during firing to create a smooth, often shiny, and waterproof surface. Glazes can be transparent or opaque, glossy or matte, and come in many colors. It seals the surface, making it food-safe if the glaze is appropriate.
Painting on bisque (using ceramic stains, underglazes, or oxides) allows for more detailed or illustrative decoration. These paints sink into the porous surface and are usually covered with a clear glaze afterward to make the piece functional and waterproof. Think of painting as adding images or patterns; glazing is more like coating.
6. Glaze Firing (Second Firing)
Your glazed piece is fired again at a higher temperature—around 1220°C for stoneware. This melts the glaze and creates a strong, finished surface.
7. Pickup and Enjoy!
Once the kiln cools, your piece is ready to pick up, use, or display. Each stage transforms the clay, making the final result even more rewarding!
Our Guarantees
-
✺
A Quiet Space for a Loud Mind
A space to slow down, focus, and create with intention. More than just a studio, it’s a revitalizing environment where your process can unfold at its own pace. -
✺
Safe & Sustainable Studio Practice
The studio is fully equipped for safe ceramic work: proper ventilation, a well-aerated space, vented kilns, and 100% lab-tested, food-safe glazes. All materials are selected with technical care and long-term safety in mind. -
✺
Curated Artistic Development
Guided by a professional art curator, the studio offers a fresh perspective on your practice. Whether you're just starting or deep in your journey, it’s a space to explore your work with care, intention, and new insight.
What People Are Saying
“Most amazing and relaxing experience ever! I promise you’ll love every second of it! Alex is the sweetest and most patient person ever! You’ll learn so much as a beginner and have so much fun doing so. Thank you Alex for this experience”
“It was an amazing experience! It was my first time creating something in the wheel and she was super nice, guiding me through the process patiently. Moreover, she created something for me so that I could try on different techniques on different pottery. Highly recommended!!!”
“I participed in a few workshop with sweet teacher Alexandra. I was always free to develop my own project, with her help and knowledge to choose the fitted technic. More recently, she taught me how to use the Wheel. She is very patient and sweet, I learned a lot and while having fun ! Can’t wait for my next workshop in December !”