Play with clay! Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Seth Rogen, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Hailey Bieber have been flocking to Patrick Johnston’s Temple of Mediclaytion ceramics studio in Venice, California, and there’s a special reason why.
The artist, who has become known for his signature hugged and loved vases, sat down with ET to share why A-listers can’t get enough of his one-of-a-kind collection.
“When I was 12, I was finally eligible to take a wheel throwing class and have not stopped since. … I learned early on that imagination and motivation are the keys to success in ceramics,” he explains.
Beyond using pottery as an outlet to ‘fire up’ his creativity, Johnston also appreciates the bond the activity forms between people.
“I love how regardless of social status or background, my ceramics studio levels the playing field and everyone is welcome,” he says.
As for how he accomplishes this: “Our model is to create a space where nobody wants to leave. … Every class is a potluck. We eat together and clay together, and those who clay together, stay together. Everyone in the classes becomes friends. It’s a true community.”
The California native also maintains a laid-back approach when it comes to his teaching style, whether you’re a celebrity client or not.
“I give my students the space to make mistakes and actually learn. … I let everyone make a mess and feel normal and free to have fun with clay. … We genuinely don’t care how famous you are, and clay doesn’t care if you’re famous,” he notes.
But celebs certainly care about the clay, and they’re showing it with physical touch thanks to Johnston’s original hug a pot experience, which he created due to his own blunder.
“After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2004, I was working on a piece and accidentally hugged it, but I stepped away thinking it was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful,” he shares.
From there, the ceramics expert wanted to capture that same innocence in all of his work — and give others the opportunity to do the same.
“The hug experience can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours. … We laugh, we cry and truly feel every aspect of being alive. It can be quite the unexpected emotional roller coaster ride and people are moved in indescribable ways,” he tells ET.
“Hugs generally make people feel safe, heard, seen, and happy. It’s a very basic, but powerful human experience that everyone has had at one point. … People are hugging each other, or even themselves. The pot is just the vessel in the middle of their unique embrace,” the potter adds.
To sign up for a class or to book a hugged pot experience with Johnston, visit templeofmediclaytion.com.
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