The week’s news in the ceramic art world – December 4, 2024

Applications are open for the 1st International Ceramics Sculpture Triennale Poland until December 31, 2024. This global competition invites ceramic artists from around the world to submit their work. Selected pieces will be featured in an exhibition at The Royal Castle in Warsaw from May 22 to August 31, 2025. The Triennale will honor the most outstanding works with several awards, including a Grand Prize of approximately $10,000.

In honoring our commitment to presenting the evolving trends and concepts that shape contemporary ceramics, Ceramics Now is pleased to announce a new call for papers. We invite thought-provoking essays, comprehensive exhibition reviews, and features that address significant movements or major events in the field. We particularly encourage essays that examine current trends and concepts in contemporary ceramics, drawing connections across a diverse range of artists and practices.

The applications are also open for several ceramic markets and fairs taking place in Europe next year: Ceramic Market Andenne (Belgium), Höhr-Grenzhausen Ceramics Market, International Ceramics Fair Oldenburg, and the International Ceramics Market Siegburg (Germany), and the Austrian Pottery Market (Austria). You can find all these events listed in our 2025 Ceramics Calendar.

The Clay Studio (Philadelphia) invites US-based artists to apply to the Small Favors show by January 15, 2025. Conceived in 2006, Small Favors grew out of The Clay Studio’s efforts to offer accessible, high-quality artworks that appeal to art enthusiasts of all ages. Restricted to the confines of a four-inch cube, the artworks created for this exhibition are small in scale yet huge in impact.

From September to October, Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Ceramic Foundation hosted the Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale 2024, a 45-day event held across multiple venues. The Biennale featured a diverse array of programs, including exhibitions, academic conferences, and museum concerts. A distinctive aspect of this year’s Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale was its evolution from a convention that was once regarded as the exclusive domain of experts into a global festival that dismantles the barriers of region, nationality, and age. Read more about the event in Ceramics Now.

Read Doug Navarra’s thought-provoking review of Mai-Thu Perret’s exhibition: “From the outset, I found Mai-Thu Perret’s work in the exhibition titled “Underworld” at the David Kordansky Gallery in NYC to be deeply challenging, which immediately drew me to it. This challenge arises from multiple factors: the work is interdisciplinary and conceptual, departing from traditional notions of ceramics while also offering a fluidity of meaning that invites viewers to actively participate in shaping their artistic experience. If we consider content to be the catalyst that elevates the viewer beyond mere engagement with an artwork and into a deeper realm of contemplation, then this exhibition enriches that dialogue by presenting it as a dynamic and multifaceted experience.”

The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, this prestigious program grants a total of $18,000 to five emerging ceramic artists from across Canada. Applications are open to Canadian artists until January 19, 2025.

Fondazione Officine Saffi (Milan) invites artists, designers, and thinkers to join a residency program that reimagines ceramics as a lens for exploring the contemporary world. Each year, up to six creative minds from diverse disciplines and cultural horizons will be welcomed into this unique space for innovation and collaboration. Residents will enjoy full access to state-of-the-art workshops, specialized equipment, and the guidance of master ceramicists, alongside comfortable accommodations. Cost: €2,400 for one month. Applications are open all year round.

“In the early months of the year, under the Oaxacan sun, Zapotec master potter and VAWAA artist Macrina, along with the women of San Marcos, gathers red clay to sculpt into forms that carry generations of tradition. This clay becomes the foundation for traditional tools like the comal—a flat, round pottery piece used to make tortillas, memelas, or quesadillas. For Macrina, the comal is more than a cooking tool; it is a bridge connecting the past, present, and future while reimagining her heritage.” Read more about Macrina’s legacy and book a transformative 6-day Vacation With An Artist apprenticeship.

St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX) is seeking candidates for an Assistant Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture