A contemporary ceramic studio is a 'paint your own pottery' studio.

These studios usually supply bisque-fired pottery for painting by their customers to created individual works of art. The movement evolved in the early 1990s from more traditional ceramics crafts studios. In traditional studios, decorative objects (like doll heads) are slip cast from molds, cleaned and painted and fired through a series of stages taking place over many days or weeks. In 1991 Emily Goodman opened a novel twist on the traditional studio. Her shop in New York City, called Pullcart, offered utilitarian objects, in particular imported Italian dishes and bowls. By 1992 one of her customers, Robin Monroe, transported the concept to Los Angeles; with her husband Josh Culver, opened Color Me Mine. Their first employee was Jennifer Kurtz, who with her fiance Michael Rubin, helped upgrade the business and market it as a high-end social activity. Kurtz and Rubin facilitated Color Me Mine's growth into its second location, in Santa Monica, before leaving to launch a more upscale business in the San Francisco Bay Area, called Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge. By 1994 there were approximately five of these contemporary ceramics studios in the US--in addition to Pullcart, Color Me Mine, and Petroglyph, there were stores in Colorado (As You Wish) and Vermont.

In Canada, an example of a creative ceramic studio is GLAZED EXPRESSIONS in Georgetown, Ontario. It is a studio, for all ages and occasions, putting smiles on everybodys faces. It is located on:
Highway 7 (Guelph Street),
Georgetown,
(between Tim Hortons and swiss chalet and across from canadian tire)
Telephone number: 905-877-2224

In 1996, the concept exploded, and dozens of new studios opened nationwide. Some of the smaller independent studios joined together to form the Contemporary Ceramic Studio Association (CCSA), which held its first convention the following year. By 2000, there were more than 1,200 independent comtemporary ceramic studios. The activity continues to be popular and shows no sign of being a fad; new studios open regularly and can be found in most cities in the US. There are also studios worldwide.

Contemporary ceramics studios have been featured in the media and have entered popular culture as an emblem of the "hip downtown." Forbes, in 1996, characterized the activity as one of a number of new trends--referred to as "half-baked," where much of the tedium of food preparation, ceramics, and other crafts, is reduced and consumers get to participate in the most action-packed and creative part of the manufacturing process. The trend has also been categorized as part of "mass customization," where otherwise mass-produced goods are personalized for the individual.

Gare, Duncan and Mayco are major suppliers of paint, glaze and pottery in this field.

In the UK contemporary studios were pioneered by ex Wing Commander Frank Denton-Powell MBE. His company, Country Love Ceramics, formed in 1992 quickly established itself as the UK leader and emphasis was placed on providing quality training and support for new business owners. Country Love never franchised the concept because they had a unique position in the market and wanted studios to reflect the individual passions of their owners. Besides artistic training, Country Love provide business advice and studio management courses. Quality bisque is available from Italy and the Far East where unique designs are modelled especially for the UK and European markets. In 2000, Country Love Ceramics developed their own range of high quality bisque under glaze colours called Studio Strokes and this was followed by production of an outstanding clear dipping overglaze that fitted all types of bisque. In 2004, Country Love teamed up with Nabertherm Kilns of Germany to supply low cost, high quality top loading kilns specially designed for the contemporary studio market. Also in 2004, Wing Commander Denton-Powell launched The Guild of Ceramics Studios, a supportive network for contemporary studios with an on line forum providing almost round the clock support and advice from its members for its members. By 2006,this organisation was nearing 500 members in the UK and Europe. Country Love Ceramics remains the UK's leader in the field of contemporary studios where there are over 1000 outlets.