Meet the People Behind Clay Space

We’re Halley and Jason, the founders of Clay Space, and we’re so excited to bring a community ceramics studio to Castro Valley.

Jason’s love of clay actually started in high school, where he spent so much time in the ceramics classroom that his teacher once asked if everything was okay at home—or if he was in trouble! The truth was much simpler; he just loved working with clay. While life, careers, and raising a family left little time for ceramics over the years, that early spark never completely went away.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and we signed up for a one-night pottery class as a date night. What we expected to be a fun evening turned into something much more. The three-hour class flew by, and we left talking about when we could do it again.

That one class led to a handful of recreation department classes and opportunities to spend more time working with clay. While we still consider ourselves beginners, we quickly discovered something that kept drawing us back: the joy of creating with our hands and the incredible community that surrounds ceramics.

Along the way, we met artists, hobbyists, teachers, and makers of all skill levels who shared a passion for creativity, learning, and connection. We also realized that Castro Valley was missing a dedicated space where that community could gather, create, and grow.

Clay Space was born from that realization. Our vision is to create a welcoming studio where complete beginners feel comfortable getting their hands dirty for the first time, experienced potters can continue developing their practice, and everyone can find a sense of community along the way.