Oak Park, Illinois
Founded by Cassie Rogala
Fifty First Street is a shop and creative studio in Oak Park, Illinois, founded by artist and educator Cassie Rogala. Part pottery studio, part gathering place, it's a space built around the belief that creativity is something worth making room for in everyday life.
Cassie has always considered herself an artist, but it was a pottery class she took after work while teaching art full-time that introduced her to working with clay. What started as a creative outlet became an important source of community, connecting her with other people who shared a love of making things by hand.
When she moved to a new town, she found herself missing that connection. Rather than waiting to find another studio that felt like home, she decided to create one herself.
About three years ago, Cassie opened Fifty First Street as a place where people could learn new skills, experiment with materials, and find community through creativity. Today, the studio offers private handbuilding workshops and classes for all ages, while its shop features handmade goods by local artists and tools to encourage creative exploration.
Cassie also brings her own handmade pottery to pop-up craft markets throughout Chicago, extending the spirit of Fifty First Street beyond the studio walls.
At its heart, Fifty First Street is about making creativity more accessible, whether that means trying pottery for the first time, picking up a handmade object, or simply finding other people who love making things as much as you do.
