ABOUT THE TOMKINS POTTERY
Our shop and studios are in the old Venegas store, in the historic Brinley District, two blocks from the Colorado River. Since 1979 this has been our second home. It was a Mexican restaurant when Pete Jagoda and George and I bought it. The brick building, built in 1924 is distinguished by it’s arched facade and receded entryway. The display windows were rebuilt in 1998.
The Tomkins Pottery is the final, I hope, incarnation of our retail outlets. We started out as the Lower Gila Valley Mud and Wax Works at 395 S Main St. in 1973, then the Neely Tomkins Gallery, the One Percent Gallery and finally the least creative, but most descriptive, Tomkins Pottery.
When George retired from teaching he built another shop area in the “outback” with the kilns and woodworking shop. I’m pretty sure we will die here.
The shop and studios at 78 W 2nd St.
Welcome to tomkinspottery.com
contact us
Email or call
928 782-1934 928 750-1195 c
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The Tomkins Pottery is also the headquarters for
the Yuma Symposium
February 21 - 23, 2019
Tomkins Pottery 78 W 2nd St. Yuma, AZ 85364
(between Madison & 1st Ave. in the Historic North End)
I'm trying to cut back on my store hours, but not my studio hours.
It's always a good idea to call first.
Thank you for your interest in fine handmade contemporary ceramics.
This website features most, but not all, of the work we have in our shop in the historic North End in Yuma. All price ranges are represented. We produce a variety of clay art: raku and earthenware, cone 10 high-fired stoneware functional and decorative pieces and now, also some cone 6 electric selections.
This page features news about upcoming events here at the studio and also convenient ways for us to help you with your shopping experience, whether you live in Yuma or not.
WHO ARE WE?
George Tomkins
Born in Upland, California
University of California at Santa Barbara BA
Arizona State University MFA
George Tomkins moved to Yuma in 1971 after finishing his MFA to teach at Arizona Western
College. Neely moved to Yuma in 1972 to marry George and teach at Kofa High School. She
and George along with Peter Jagoda became Yuma's first Artists-in-Residence under a work-
shop grant funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona Western College.
George retired after 33 years as a Professor of Art at AWC where he taught ceramics and art history. He enjoyed retirement in his new studio for a while, but started teaching part-time again after 5 years of retirement. He also enjoyed serving on several city arts commissions. He sails competitively whenever he can.
Neely Tomkins
Born in Lima, Ohio
Wittenberg University BFA
Arizona State University MFA
Neely moved to Yuma in 1972 to marry George and teach at Kofa High School. She and George along with Peter Jagoda became Yuma's first Artists-in-Residence under a workshop grant funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizona Western College.
After only one year at Kofa, Neely decided to maintain a local gallery space for she and George, which she has done to this day. The Tomkins Pottery is located in the historic North End at 78 W 2nd St. Neely has also been very involved with the Yuma arts community. She worked as assistant to the director when the Depot opened, helped in the early years of the Yuma Art Symposium, exhibited the work of other artists in her galleries, and helped in the historic preservation of many buildings in the North End. She has also volunteered for over 15 years on non-profit boards including the Yuma Fine Arts Association, The Cultural Council of Yuma and Yuma Ballet Theatre. For the last 25 years Neely has served as Director of the Yuma Art Symposium.
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