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St. Pete Ceramics Studio Destroyed by Fire, Owners Vow to Rebuild
The owners of the community art studio are fundraising to replace lost equipment and reopen the space.
Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:55pm
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A fire early Wednesday morning completely destroyed St. Pete Ceramics, a popular art studio in St. Petersburg, Florida. The owners are now working to clean up the damage, determine the cause of the blaze, and launch a fundraising campaign to rebuild the studio and replace lost equipment like kilns and pottery wheels.
Why it matters
St. Pete Ceramics was a beloved community hub for local artists and hobbyists, providing a space for classes, pottery-making, and more. The studio's destruction is a significant loss for the St. Petersburg arts scene, but the owners' commitment to rebuilding shows the resilience of the local creative community.
The details
The fire broke out around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, with smoke first appearing on the studio's security cameras. By 4 a.m., the camera had stopped recording. The fire marshal is still investigating the cause, but the owners believe it may have been an electrical issue, as the kiln area and back hallway were completely destroyed while the kiln itself appears to have survived. Remarkably, most of the pottery pieces in the studio were saved, with only a few items broken.
- The fire started around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
- The studio's security cameras stopped recording around 4 a.m. the same morning.
The players
Beth Miranda
Co-owner of St. Pete Ceramics.
St. Petersburg Fire Department
The fire department responded to the blaze and worked carefully to save as many pottery pieces as possible.
What they’re saying
“Our beloved community studio, that has become the home away from home for so many in our area, had a massive fire that completely destroyed the space. We've lost all our kilns, wheels, and pretty much everything that helped make the space special. We will overcome this loss and we will rebuild, but we need your help.”
— Beth Miranda, Co-owner, St. Pete Ceramics
“The whole place is filled with pottery and I think only two or three things were broken. It was impressive and very kind of them.”
— Beth Miranda, Co-owner, St. Pete Ceramics
What’s next
The owners are currently cleaning up the damaged space and determining their next steps, including launching a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign to rebuild the studio and replace lost equipment. The fire marshal is also still investigating the cause of the blaze.
The takeaway
The destruction of St. Pete Ceramics is a major loss for the local arts community, but the owners' commitment to rebuilding and the outpouring of community support shows the resilience and importance of creative spaces like this one. The fire highlights the need for proper safety measures and preparedness to protect small businesses and community hubs from unexpected disasters.
