Building Clay, Building Community: 43rd Street Studios

Tucked into the heart of Forest Hill, 43rd Street Studios is the newest creative home for Richmond’s growing ceramics community and the vision of artist and educator Joanna Gragnani. A Richmond native with over 15 years of experience working in clay, Joanna creates under the name Objects Arsenal, crafting organic, hand-built forms that proudly carry the fingerprints of their making. Her work celebrates process, texture, and the intimate connection between artist and material.

After years of teaching ceramics and discovering how meaningful a shared creative space can be, Joanna dreamed of building a place where people could gather, learn, and make alongside one another. That dream took shape with her partner Neil Nordheim, a contractor who managed and recently completed the renovation of the studio’s new home. The two have tackled many renovation projects together, but transforming this space into a light-filled, communal ceramics studio marks their most exciting adventure yet.

Joanna and Neil live in Woodland Heights with their three children, who are just as excited as their parents about this new chapter. Together, they’ve built more than a studio; they’ve created a welcoming hub for creativity, connection, and clay. We spoke with Joanna, the owner of 43rd Street Studios, to learn more about the Richmond hidden gem.

CultureWorks: Can you describe the vision or mission behind the studio? What makes it unique in the Richmond ceramics and arts community?

Joanna: We are a community-centered ceramics space, where everyone plays a part in making the studio come to life. We focus on three main things - studio memberships, events, and one-time classes/specialized workshops. 

The building itself is very unique and has been a central part of the Forest Hill neighborhood for a long time. The building is over 100 years old, and for over 35 years, Robin Cage owned the space and used it as her personal studio and an art gallery, the 43rd Street Gallery. We opened 43rd Street Studios about 3 years ago and wanted to keep the space a ceramics studio but open it up to the broader community for memberships and classes. Robin still has a private studio with us and she continues to help us run the gas kiln that she built almost 40 years ago. 

Robin started the 43rd Street Festival of the Arts and still runs the festival today, so the drive to build community has always surrounded this space. We continue to build community here not only through memberships and classes, but through events. We bring people from all over the Richmond area together through events, like our fall group show called Nocturne. We invited Richmond area ceramic artists to create works that hold light, and during the opening night of the show, our space was lit by candlelight and was magical. Seeing so many faces together in the studio that night was very fulfilling. We have added a new, vibrant energy into this century-old space, but we glean from Robin’s knowledge and legacy.

CultureWorks: How did the surrounding Forest Hill neighborhood influence your decision to establish the studio here?

Joanna: I live nearby in Woodland Heights, about a 3 minute drive away! I had driven by the studio too many times to count and was always intrigued by it, and I had met Robin several times in the past and was once a juror for the 43rd Street Festival. I also grew up in Stratford Hills, not far from Forest Hill. This area feels like home to me and is my favorite area in Richmond. I love that I can walk from my house down to the James River, up through Forest Hill Park, and end up at the studio in about 30 minutes. There is so much beauty that surrounds this area. 

CultureWorks: What’s your favorite class that you’ve run recently (topic, age group, or technique) and what made it stand out?

Joanna: We offered a Kid’s Clay Camp this past summer, and the energy from the kids was very positive. The ideas and creativity that came out of the camp was so inspiring, reminding us adults that we need to let go and be more free like them. From clay creatures that lived in our trees outside of the studio, to fairy houses and food inspired creations, the work that the children made was so fun. We have another Winter Clay Camp happening this December and I can’t wait to see what the kids make then!

CultureWorks: How do you define community within the context of your studio, and how do you foster that among members, students, and visitors?

Joanna: When I first started the space about 3 years ago with a new baby (we signed the paperwork for the building the week after I had my son), I was overwhelmed and unsure of what I was doing with the studio. I quickly realized it wasn’t just about me - if you let others help you and play a part, then it is so much easier and fulfilling. I may be the “owner” but this studio belongs to so many people and it wouldn’t be what it is without the help of our entire community - members, students, visitors. For example, one of our members loves making posters for our open houses, to draw people from the outside into the building, and another member is a photographer and takes pictures at all of our events. Many of our members teach our classes too. I never asked anyone to do these things, but there is something about the place that makes people want to be involved, and I am very grateful for that. 

Every person that comes into our space, in whatever capacity that is, adds to the life of our community. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have members making pottery, students taking classes, or visitors seeing our space. I want everyone to feel welcome here. The building was painted pink right after we got the studio. To me, that color is inviting, warm, welcoming, dreamy, loving - everything I strive for our community to be. 

CultureWorks: What has been the most rewarding part of building this studio so far?

Joanna: Meeting such amazing people! We have a wide range of people that come to our space, from little kids to retirees, and everyone brings a unique perspective.

CultureWorks: For someone who’s never touched clay before, what’s your message to them about diving into ceramics here?

Joanna: Have fun! Don’t think too much and just play. Working with your hands and molding clay is extremely therapeutic so just enjoy your time with the clay and don’t worry about how it will turn out. We are all learning and exploring here - even those of us who have been working in clay for many years. Robin Cage is still experimenting and it is so cool to see her get excited about new techniques she is trying. 

CultureWorks: Looking ahead, are there any new class offerings or thematic workshops you’re planning?

Joanna: In the new year we will be listing more handbuilding classes that are fun, in addition to the favorite beginner wheel classes. We recently fixed up a raku kiln at the studio and want to offer raku firings! Raku is a firing technique that involves heating ceramics to a high temperature, removing them from the kiln while red-hot, and then placing them in a container with combustible materials like newspaper. Raku is immediate, exciting, and very much a communal experience. 

In addition to new classes, we have been experimenting with group art shows where we invite artists from all over Richmond to participate. This coming spring we are organizing a group show called Open: A Flower Show, and we invite artists to submit work in all mediums, inspired by flowers. These shows help continue to build our community, bringing new faces into the space.