The Founding of Ruby's Clay Studio

Ruby O’Burke, a celebrated California artist, established the clay studio in 1962 to provide facilities and a supportive environment for potters to develop their craft. In 1967, with the help of Ruth Asawa’s family she moved the studio to its present location in the Castro district. After running the studio single-handedly for many years, Ruby established a manager system in 1977 to distribute the workload. Several studio members were hired to collect fees, fire kilns, answer questions and keep the place clean. Ruby stayed on as overseer until 1980, when she turned over the reins to a full-time manager. Ruby died in 1983 at the age of 86, but her vision and high standards remain with us.  

Becoming a Non-Profit Community-Based Organization

In 1985 Ruby's was changed from a private school and studio to a non-profit (501C-3) organization to continue to make the studio available to an ever-growing community of local artists and reach out to the disadvantaged. Our outreach programs have received grants to subsidize school and community programs, classes and occupational therapy for HIV positive individuals and people in transitional shelters. We also extended grants for artist-in-residence programs in Russia and Brazil and brought the work back to Ruby’s. Our gallery showcases the work of our members, local artists, and outreach programs. Along with gallery openings and workshops, everyone is invited to our annual “Bowlicious” ice-cream social and the Christmas potluck party. Ruby’s is a fun place to be and all are welcome here.