My name is Andreas Barz, a Männedorf ceramicist. In my studio on Lake Zurich, I produce ceramics and give pottery courses for students.
What fascinates me most is ceramic vessels: plates, bowls, cups and jugs, as well as unique pieces made of clay.
Archetypal forms recur in ever-new variations, each with its own personal expression.
Handmade ceramics & pottery courses on Lake Zurich
From clay to finished vessel
I work with clay and porcelain: using hand-building or slab techniques, cast in plaster molds, or thrown on the wheel. After drying, the pieces undergo bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing. The variety of glazes allows for a wide range of surfaces and colors.
Throwing a piece of clay on the wheel is demanding yet deeply satisfying. Centering a ball of clay, pulling it up, shaping the vessel as you turn it: a state of flow sets in. Mastering takes practice; enthusiasm comes quickly, then perseverance, patience, and humility are required.
About me and the studio
I have been working at the potter's wheel for many years. Alongside my practice as a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy in Zurich, I completed a part-time apprenticeship as a ceramicist (EFZ) with master potter Mathies Schwarze and at the Bern/Biel School of Design. I have been a member of Swissceramics (https://swissceramics.ch/) since 2016.
My spacious, professionally equipped studio is located in a house directly above the village center of Männedorf, easily accessible from Zurich, Meilen and Stäfa.
Courses, sales, and commissioned work
In small groups, I teach throwing on the potter's wheel, glazing, and firing. Beginners learn the basics: centering, opening, and pulling up. More advanced students refine their forms.
I sell my ceramics in my studio, at markets, and at exhibitions. I am happy to accept commissions, from single pieces to small series.
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In Andreas Barz's pottery studio in Männedorf on Lake Zurich, about 25 minutes from Zurich. Courses for beginners and advanced students include throwing on the potter's wheel, glazing, and firing.
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No. Beginners are expressly welcome and will learn the craft from the ground up. Advanced students will deepen their technique and work on their own projects.
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After drying, the piece is first fired in a kiln (bisque firing). Then it is glazed and fired a second time (glaze firing). This second firing gives the surface its final color and texture.
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Yes. Handmade plates, bowls, cups, and jugs are available directly from the studio in Männedorf, as well as at markets and exhibitions. Custom orders are welcome.
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Andreas Barz, ceramicist EFZ, trained by master potter Mathies Schwarze and at the School of Design Bern/Biel, has been a member of Swissceramics since 2016.
