It's been four months since artist Matthew Mauger opened shop at Richmond Clay House (740 Clement St.), and the ceramics workshop and classroom is already hosting sold-out classes and almost at its member cap.

Along with Blue Stone Pottery, Yonder and Studio Ceramica, Clay House is now the Richmond District's four studio for learning and practicing pottery.

With a decade's experience in ceramics and a degree in studio arts, Mauger previously produced commercial ceramics in a small Mission studio in conjunction with Artillery AG gallery, and helped coordinate arts-focused programs with Holistic Underground. He says Clay House is the next step in his professional evolution.

"I wanted to create a fully fledged studio that was community-oriented," he said. "Ceramics was a good way to do that — with ceramics, you kind of have to have a crowd, everyone has to pull together."

Clay House offers memberships for $200 a month, which includes house clay and glazes, shelves, and kiln space. Mauger said there are still some memberships available, but they're approaching their limit.

Classes for any experience level cost $165, and include four 2.5-hour weekly studio sessions. They're currently booked up through May.

The facilities on site include 20 wheels, two kilns, a slab roller: "all the good stuff," Mauger said.

Richmond Clay House is open 1-9 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. on weekends.