About
Shannon May Mackenzie founded Iron Spot Studio in 2021 with an intentional and sustainable approach to creating ceramic home goods.
“I took my first clay class in 2012.
I enjoyed the simplicity of clay immediately: throwing on the wheel felt like washing away the stress of life and the pressure to create ‘fine art.’ It was where I retreated to recover my energy and enjoy getting messy.
In 2020, I started working at a local studio in Richmond VA, taking classes and making functional objects for my home. When the studio shut down during the pandemic, I had the privilege of finding a remote job working with an amazing team at a digital marketing agency that has years of experience building beautiful brands and businesses. With their support and guidance, I started believing that I could take the leap, start my own business, designing ceramic objects I love making for more than just myself.
The studio reopened in 2021, and I finally had the time and space to make enough work for my first shop opening. Each unique piece is hand-thrown with care and thoughtfully crafted. I hope the joy of experiencing my work will bring you a fraction of the happiness it brought me to create.”
-Shannon, 2021
Our Values
Good design takes time.
We believe the best art comes from patience and intention. We aren’t a big business mass producing low-quality shit to keep the toxic wheel of capitalism spinning. Every unique piece is hand-thrown with care and thoughtfully designed. Each small batch a labor of love that we take pride in.
Sustainability matters.
As a business, we are committed to sustainable practices: we guarantee that your pieces will be packed and shipped with recyclable or biodegradable materials. We minimize waste at every step of the production process by reclaiming clay and utilizing community resources whenever available.
Capitalism is trash.
Capitalism is a violent system rooted in white supremacy and exploitation. This business challenges internalization of the systemic failures of capitalism and instead prioritizes community, accessibility, and equality within ethical commerce.
Shop Details
Shipping to the US only
We’re shipping within the United States only, though we hope to expand in the future. For local Richmond customers, there will be an option to select Local Pick Up instead of shipping at check out. The location for pick up will be in The Fan neighborhood and arrangements for time and date will be made via email after you place your order.
No returns
We are not accepting returns at this time. However, if your pottery arrives damaged due to shipping conditions, please document the piece and its packaging and send photos via email or the contact form.