Clay City: Supporting Artists in the Heart of Dublin
Last updated Jan 05, 2026
We believe creativity thrives when people are given the space, time and support to explore their ideas. That belief is at the heart of Clay City, a new, year-long collaboration between Throwing Shapes, a Dublin based community ceramic studio, and Staycity, created to support ceramic artists and graduates at a pivotal moment in their careers.
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This residency programme offers free studio space and accommodation right in the heart of Dublin. By doing so, Clay City aims to nurture emerging and established talent, and help position Dublin as a hub for contemporary ceramic practice.
Introducing our 2025 Graduate Resident: Abhainn Wheeler
As accommodation partners for the Clay City Graduate Residency, we were delighted to catch up with our very first graduate resident, Abhainn Wheeler, who is currently in residence following her selection in August 2025.
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Originally from Wicklow, Abhainn’s work is deeply influenced by her surroundings, both natural and urban. “When you’re creating something in the studio, everything that’s happening to you in daily life comes out in the piece,” she explains. Colour, texture, form, even something passed on the street can leave its mark.
Living and working in Dublin has become part of that creative process. “The city’s never quiet,” she says, “but I really like that. There’s so much diversity.” For Abhainn, that constant movement and variety feeds directly into her work.
Much of her practice is focused on Irish landscapes, with glazes and forms reflecting a strong personal connection to place. “I’d love for people to see that love reflected in the work - in the clay, the form, the surface,” she says. Bringing those influences into a city context feels especially meaningful. “Dublin is a city, but it’s also surrounded by beautiful mountains and coastlines. It’s nice to be able to bring something of that into the city.”
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Being awarded the residency was a moment she didn’t immediately believe. “I was so happy - genuinely delighted. It opened up so many opportunities,” she recalls. That sense of possibility is exactly what Clay City is designed to offer.
About the Clay City Programme
Clay City is a year-long initiative offering:
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One 12-month graduate residency
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Three 3-month professional residencies for established ceramic artists
The programme provides artists with the support they need to focus fully on their practice while contributing to Ireland’s leading ceramics community. It welcomes both Irish and international applicants, encourages community engagement, and creates opportunities for collaboration and creative exchange.
We’re proud to be part of Clay City, supporting artists by making it easier to live and work in Dublin City while focusing on what they do best.
Graduate Residency
The graduate residency is a fully supported opportunity for an early-career ceramicist and includes:
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Full access to Throwing Shapes’ state-of-the-art ceramics studio
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Mentorship and professional guidance
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A fully subsidised, city-centre own-door apartment for one year
Professional Residencies
Alongside the graduate programme, Clay City also offers three short-term professional residencies, each lasting three months. These residencies give established ceramicists the time and space to step into the studio, focus on a specific project, or explore new ideas through research and experimentation.
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The first professional residency has been awarded to Stella Baraklianou, who will be in residence from October 2025 to January 2026. We can’t wait to share more from the studio as Clay City continues to grow!
