ABOUT EUGENE SAILOR STUDIOS

Eugene Sailor Studios (run by Joel & Kristen Shaw) is a small family shop on the Eastside of Indianapolis - and we say “family shop” because it really is!  While Joel is throwing pots, the three kids (Elsie + Sim + Judah) are usually running in and out, and Burby *the cat* can typically be found either snoozing on a wood pile or biting at Joel’s arm hoping to be petted while he works. 

Joel + Kristen met when they were 13 and have been attached at the hip ever since. We have always loved working together side by side, so E.S.S. is a literal dream come true! Joel has been working in clay since the age of 15, and continues to wake in the wee hours of the morning to get into the shop. Kristen is the all-time CFO/marketing director/partner in all things. Our name originates from Joel’s grandfather, Gene, who was a true Jack of All Trades. He not only restored his own wooden sailboats, but flew planes and instilled in his children and grandchildren a desire to pursue their interests. We are forever grateful for his influence and believe this little shop is a representation of the quality, care and detail he put into his own passions.

At the end of the day, we want our children to grow up knowing what it was like to work alongside their parents, enjoying the process of learning how to create something both useful and beautiful. As the great Warren MacKenzie said, “When my pots go into a museum, I’m not very happy, because they’ll only be looked at, then. They’ll never be touched. They’ll never be handled and washed and eaten from or anything like that — they’ll just be looked at in a case — and that’s not what pots are for, in my estimation.” We at E.S.S. believe a piece should be sipped from, eaten off of, and thoroughly enjoyed to reach its full potential. We hope you enter into our studio, take a look around and leave with a handcrafted piece knowing that YOU are a contributor each time you enjoy it.