Pewabic Pottery was established in 1903 by Mary Chase Perry Stratton and is located on Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit. While Pewabic is internationally famous for ceramics, many residents of Detroit and southeast Michigan are unaware of its incredible presence. Just five short years after establishing Pewabic, Perry became famous and made a name for her company by way of creating iridescent glazes to use on tiles. These glazes are well known all around the world and resemble the pattern of an oil slick you may see in a store parking lot.

In addition to experimenting with glazes, Perry created the ceramics department at the University of Michigan, taught ceramics at Wayne State University, was a trustee for the Detroit Institute of Arts, and a founding member of the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. She also spearheaded the opening of a school of art and design in the city, which is now known as the College for Creative Studies.

The very reason that ceramics are a central part of Detroit’s culture is because Perry devoted her life to her craft. She passed away at the age of 94 in 1961, having never stopped working a day in or for the Pewabic Studio. She dedicated her life to ceramics because she wanted to make sure that art was available to not only the citizens of Detroit, but southeast Michigan as well.

To this day, Pewabic is still famous for that iridescent glaze and for their tile work. Pewabic installations can be found in the Nebraska State Capitol, Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Comerica Park, Herald Square and many more locations around the world. Pewabic offers a wide variety of studio ceramics classes for kids and adults in addition to having 28 hours of open studio time for their students. They offer private parties, off-site classes and internships to aspiring ceramic artists and anyone curious about diving their hands into clay.

The studio fires over 55,000 pieces every year in a variety of kilns to create different effects. Their gallery is located in the same building as the studio on Jefferson, where they display and sell their own studio’s work and other well-known ceramic artists’ work. They have three annual shows and exhibitions while also hosting other small gallery showings. Postings for these shows are always on their website.

Pewabic Pottery began as the ultimate dream for Perry, and turned into an amazing artistic community. Since its founding over a century ago, Pewabic has done an excellent job making art readily available to the people of Detroit and have had an incredible impact on many of the lives of those living in southeast Michigan.

The work that Mary Chase Perry Stratton did with Pewabic Pottery created an unforgettable atmosphere of arts in Detroit that will continue to thrive for years to come.