ST. GEORGE — Caution: people inside this art studio are known to throw things.
Whether you’re looking to paint ceramics, see an art gallery or throw clay on a wheel for the first time, The Tilted Kiln offers a place to learn, experiment and develop skills.
“The community that we have around us that supports us and the people that come in that we talk to daily — our employees, the artists — I just couldn’t see myself getting up every day without that,” The Tilted Kiln owner and potter Joe Bott told St. George News. “And to me, that’s why I come here every day. I love being here.”
Together, Bott and his wife Emilie own The Tilted Kiln Pottery and Ceramics studio. But they didn’t just stumble into the studio business; Joe Bott’s life was dedicated to pottery long before he had a dream studio of his own.
What is now The Tilted Kiln was once the Desert Light Pottery Studio. Joe Bott was teaching high school ceramics with a plan to open up a studio in his backyard when Desert Light Pottery went up for sale. Excited, he ran home to tell his wife about the business opportunity. Initially, she said no.
“Joe’s a potter,” Emilie Bott said. “I am not a potter. I do have a love for all art. I’ve been raised with it. My dad’s an artist. My brother’s an artist. My husband’s an artist. I’m very appreciative of every talent people have. But I’m not a potter.”
After closely examining the business along with their own ideas, the couple took a leap of faith and purchased the studio in 2015. Originally set up as a place to play with clay and sometimes sell things on the side, they’ve completely rebuilt the business model and rebranded.
As for the name, The Tilted Kiln, Emilie Bott said she and her husband are a little off-center, so the name fits perfectly. She added that no one actually wants a tilted kiln in real life, which makes for a great conversation starter.
At the beginning of their studio business, Joe Bott taught pottery in Enterprise, then at Tuacahn High School while his wife ran the shop. But after the shop quickly took off, the couple realized the importance of having him in the studio to answer questions.
“That’s when he took the leap and left teaching to actually be here full-time,” Emilie Bott said. “And it’s just taken off. We’ve just grown tremendously and we’re very fortunate.”
In January 2021, they moved the shop from its original location on St. George Boulevard to its permanent location at 955 E. Tabernacle Street.
The Tilted Kiln now offers “Paint Your Own Ceramics” in the front lobby, which allows walk-ins to pick a ceramic piece they’d like to paint. The relaxed environment includes music, and guests can sit as long as they’d like with no additional fee. They’ve had everyone from families to church and bridal shower groups come in to paint.
Beyond the studio’s front area is a back studio, which includes pottery wheels, tools and tables available for artists to use. Artists can pay for a half hour, an hour, a full day or monthly memberships. There is no limitation on what artists can or cannot make or sell, the owners said.
“It’s a great environment to have professional potters, amateur potters, beginning potters, people that have never touched clay, all in the same space interacting with each other,” Joe Bott said.
Classes at The Tilted Kiln include wheel throwing, a hand-building class and “Give it a Whirl” – a one-time class that allows people to try the pottery wheel for a few hours. A four-week class teaches in-depth pottery-making techniques, trimming, glazing and more. See the class schedule for a full list.
In the beginning, Joe Bott taught every ceramics class at the studio. The couple has since hired in-house artists as employees.
“It’s so nice to see the diversity of the employees and what they have and what they bring,” Emilie Bott said. “There’s different strengths and dynamics. These guys are doing a phenomenal job.”
But that’s not all you’ll find at The Tilted Kiln.
The Glen B. Blakley Gallery is a professional back studio gallery created to highlight the local artistic talent of St. George and surrounding areas and is named after the late St. George artist Glen B. Blakely.
“He was a phenomenal man here in town and around the clay community, the nation and the world,” Joe Bott said. “He helped us tremendously when we first started and was the one we went to for advice. He was always there, and it’s just an honor to be able to use his name.”
Rotating monthlong exhibitions include a variety of mediums from painting to 3D art and more. In-house pottery is also for sale. Emilie Bott said she believes the gallery space is vital to the community, providing a space for artists to be supportive of one another while creating a beautiful experience for anyone who walks through it.
An entire wall inside the studio features the couple’s private mug collection with over 280 handmade ceramic mugs they’ve collected from all over the world.
“It seems like everywhere we go we buy mugs,” Joe Bott said. “Mugs tell so much about the artist that to me a vase or a plate doesn’t necessarily tell. As a potter, I pick it up, I look at the bottom, I feel it, I handle it, I see how they made it — everything on it is more connected to the artist.”
A distributor for all things pottery, The Tilted Kiln sells new and used wheels and kilns, glaze, tools and more. They also offer kiln repairs.
The couple’s work doesn’t stop at the studio. They created Clay Con West, which takes place annually at the Dixie Convention Center. The event is in its sixth year and brings together pottery professionals from all over the world.
As for future goals, the couple hopes to transform the field behind the studio into a social space with live music, a fire pit and a refreshment bar during gallery openings.
“That’s what’s important – community,” Emilie Bott said. “Looking out for each other and seeing our talents and developing that. I’m just glad we have a space where we can share that with people.”
For more information on The Tilted Kiln, including class schedules, visit their website. Follow @thetiltedkiln on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date.
Photo Gallery
A white board is set up for the "Give it a Whirl" class at The Tilted Kiln in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A wall inside The Tilted Kiln features the owner's personal mug collection from all over the world, St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Pre-made ceramics sit on shelves waiting to be picked for painting at The Tilted Kiln in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Pre-made ceramics sit on shelves waiting to be picked for painting at The Tilted Kiln in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The studio inside The Tilted Kiln features a painted art wall and supplies in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The Tilted Kiln's gallery is named after Glen B. Blakley, St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A wall inside The Tilted Kiln features the owner's personal mug collection from all over the world, St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Husband and wife Joe and Emilie Bott smile in front of their personal mug collection inside The Tilted Kiln in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The studio inside The Tilted Kiln offers wheels, tables and tools for artists to use, St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Items people have created at The Tilted Kiln wait to be picked up by their creators in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A wall inside The Tilted Kiln features the owner's personal mug collection from all over the world, St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Art created by Joe Bott is pictured, location and date unspecified | Photo courtesy of Joe Bott, St. George News
A sign welcomes visitors to The Tilted Kiln in St. George, Utah, Oct. 5, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
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