Planet X Pottery

Sure, a (literal) pottery barn sounds pretty cool, but what about a whole planet full of pottery? That’s where Planet X Pottery comes in, ready to rock your world and expand your horizons about what it means to put hands to clay.

First of all, take our advice: make the drive. Artistry of this caliber is not so easy to locate in metro areas, but situated in the heart of one of the most isolated areas of the Lower 48, Planet X Pottery is a true Black Rock Desert anomaly. For nearly 50 years, John and Rachel Bogard have lived on the outskirts of Gerlach, about 107 miles north of Reno. Though the annual Burning Man Arts Festival put the Black Rock Desert and surrounding areas on the map in the early 1990s, the Bogards had already called the region home for 20 years when the festival came to Nevada.

History of Planet X Pottery

Established in 1974 at the foot of Granite Mountain, between the Smoke Creek and Black Rock Deserts, a visit to Planet X Pottery does, in fact, feel like a visit to another planet—Planet X to be exact. A lifelong student of the arts, John began making pottery in 1969, studying with Al Johnsen at UC Santa Cruz and Big Creek Pottery. By the early 1970s, John and his other half, Rachel, relocated to the rural Nevada community of Gerlach, settling into an old homestead on the Emigrant Trail—leftover wagon ruts and all. Together, John and Rachel have transformed their once-modest pottery studio into one of the most impressive series of galleries in Nevada, offering a vast selection of fine porcelain, stoneware, Raku, and paintings that depict the beautiful high-desert landscapes surrounding their studio. On site, visitors will find Gallery X, Gallery Y, and Gallery Z, along with a fourth gallery—all brimming with bargain items for sale.

Though still a remote destination by most standards, Planet X Pottery has evolved from a blank spot on the map to being part of a community known for hosting the biggest party on earth. Planet X Pottery is completely off the grid, powered entirely by solar, propane, and generator, and has undergone quite the transformation since the Bogards took up residency in the early 1970s. In a landscape known for its extremes, a visit to Planet X Pottery promises relaxing refuge under the towering cottonwoods that shade the galleries, and among the full spectrum of color in surrounding landscapes that has continued to inspire John and Rachel for decades. 

Today, the shop hosts a pair of annual events: an open house show and sale on Memorial Day Weekend and a bargain sale over Thanksgiving weekend. When you visit — and we know you’ll want to — pack a few sandwiches, some chips, and your beverage of choice: Planet X Pottery has several picnic tables on site for road-weary travelers to enjoy.