Fowler’s Clay Works: Handmade Pottery & Creative Experiences in Gatlinburg

Fowler’s Clay Works is a family-owned pottery studio and gallery in Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, where visitors can watch pottery being made by hand, browse functional and decorative pieces, or create their own pottery during a hands-on class. Located at 1402 E. Parkway, the studio offers a more personal way to bring home a handmade piece connected to the Smoky Mountains.

About Fowler’s Clay Works

Fowler’s Clay Works was founded by Mike Fowler in 2015 and is operated as a family business with his wife Cheryl and daughter Ava. Mike began working with ceramics in the 1990s and later developed his own style while studying traditional Southern pottery techniques. His work incorporates hand-applied slip trailing and personally mixed glazes inspired by the colors and character of the Smoky Mountains.

The studio creates pottery that is both decorative and functional. Visitors can browse handmade mugs, baking dishes, bowls, vases, luminaries, and other pieces, with each item shaped and glazed by hand. The company notes that its pottery is microwave-, dishwasher-, and oven-safe up to 350°F, making many pieces practical souvenirs rather than objects that simply sit on a shelf.

Part of what makes Fowler’s Clay Works interesting is that guests can actually watch the pottery-making process. The studio welcomes visitors to see the potters working at the wheel before browsing the gallery. For travelers who want to take the experience a step further, the studio also offers Make Your Own Pottery experiences where participants learn basic wheel-throwing skills and create their own piece.

The studio is part of Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, a concentration of independent artists and craftspeople where visitors can explore pottery, woodworking, painting, leatherwork, basketry, and other traditional crafts.

Why Guests Love It

• A genuine handmade souvenir: Each pottery piece is shaped and glazed by hand, so guests can take home something with an individual character rather than a mass-produced souvenir.
• Watch the craft happen: Visitors can see the potters working on the wheel and learn more about how the pieces are created.
• Hands-on pottery classes: Guests can make their own pottery, turning the visit into an activity as well as a shopping stop.
• Good for families and groups: The studio welcomes families and offers small-group pottery experiences, making it suitable for couples, families, and friend groups with creative interests.
• Functional pieces: Many of the handmade items are designed for everyday use, including mugs and baking dishes, and are rated safe for microwave, dishwasher, and oven use up to 350°F.
• Part of a larger craft route: Its location in the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community makes it easy to combine with other independent studios and galleries around Gatlinburg.

Insider Tips

If you simply want to browse and watch the potters work, you can visit the studio during its regular business hours. Fowler’s Clay Works currently lists Monday through Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM, and closed Sunday on its official website. Note that some third-party listings show different hours, so the studio’s own site is the better reference before visiting.

If you want to take a pottery class, reserve ahead of time. Fowler’s says classes can fill 10–14 days in advance. Its current Make a Mug experience lasts about two hours, is limited to six students, and has a minimum age of 8; children participating must have an adult taking the class with them.

The finished pottery from a class is not taken home immediately. The studio handles the glazing and firing process and typically ships the finished piece to participants afterward, with the current website estimating about 12 weeks for delivery. Keep that in mind if you’re hoping to use your creation during the same vacation.

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little muddy if you’re taking a class. The studio provides aprons and towels, but pottery is a hands-on experience.

Stay Hello Sunshine Tip

Choose a handmade mug, bowl, or another piece at Fowler’s Clay Works to bring a little of the Smokies back with you. Then return to Sunshine Around the Bend, settle into the cozy cabin, and let the evening unfold around the gourmet kitchen, wooded wraparound deck, or private patio fire table.