The week’s news in the ceramic art world – June 15, 2026

🏺 The 52nd Congress and General Assembly of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) will take place in Jingdezhen, China, from June 27 to July 2, 2026. Hosted by Jingdezhen Ceramic University and the Jingdezhen Municipal Government, the congress explores Inheritance and Innovation through conferences, panel discussions, museum visits, cultural programmes, and exhibitions across the city. Among the exhibitions not to miss are the IAC International Members’ Exhibition and IAC International Residencies Exhibition at Taoxichuan Art Museum, both opening June 28, and Future Vision, presenting around 200 works by new IAC members, opening June 30. We also recommend the regional exhibitions at the Jingdezhen Grand Bowl, including Ontologies of Touch, Postcards from the Monsoon Belt, and Latin America: Territory and Ceramics, as well as Breaking Through the Earth, exploring intersections between clay, architecture, and public space.

⭐ County Hall Pottery in London is inviting applications for its 2027 Potter in Residence Programme, a year-long opportunity for makers working with clay across design, function, fine art, craft, and experimental practice. The residency runs from January 4 to December 23, 2027, and combines supported studio time with a part-time role contributing 20 hours per week to the studio, gallery, and teaching programme. The selected resident will receive dedicated studio space, kiln and materials access, professional support, a solo exhibition, and a £20,000 salary. Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Applications close July 30, 2026.

🎓 There are just two weeks left to apply for the 2027 Taiwan Ceramics Residency Program, offering artists the opportunity to work in Yingge, one of Taiwan’s most significant ceramic centers. Residents will spend 60 to 90 days developing their practice within a fully equipped studio environment, while engaging with local craftspeople and ceramic traditions. The program provides material support, accommodation, and travel reimbursement. Applications are due June 30, 2026.

👌 Applications also close next week for the sixth edition of the Officine Saffi Award. Participation is free, with a €10,000 First Prize and six Residency Prizes developed in collaboration with international institutions. This year’s theme, Forms of Belonging, invites artists to explore ceramics as a material language of connection, recognition, and shared experience. Applications are due June 26, 2026, and the exhibition opens in late September.

🏅 Ceramic artists are also invited to apply for the Virginia A. Groot Foundation Grant, which supports artists in developing their work and advancing their careers. Each year, the foundation awards three major grants: $60,000 for First Place, $30,000 for Second Place, and $20,000 for Third Place. Open to artists aged 21 and over who are not currently enrolled in higher education, the grant is intended to support time, travel, materials, and creative development. Applications are due January 9, 2027.

🌊 The Biennale of Contemporary Keramics 2026 recently opened in the city of Rhodes, Greece, and will remain on view until October 31, 2026. Titled Where the Day Starts, the second edition brings together 42 artists connected to the Mediterranean, exploring the region’s histories, traditions, and possible futures through contemporary ceramics. Curated by Stamatia Dimitrakopoulos, Loukia Thomopoulou, and Anissa Touati, the biennale reflects on migration, exchange, identity, and the enduring links between ceramic practice and Mediterranean culture. A very good excuse to visit Rhodes this year.

🥐 Later this month, Saint-Sulpice Céramique returns to the iconic Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris, bringing together more than 100 ceramic artists from around the world. Visitors can discover a wide range of sculptural and functional works. This year’s collective focus, Hut(s), explores shelter as a space between interior and exterior. The programme also includes daily talks, free workshops for children and adults, and a Ceramic Café where visitors can discuss making processes & summer plans over a handmade cup.

👉 Pentimenti Gallery in Philadelphia is inviting artists working in clay to submit work for an upcoming group exhibition opening in November 2026. The exhibition will present contemporary ceramic works created within the last two years. Artists working across sculpture, vessel-based forms, abstraction, conceptual approaches, and experimental processes are welcome to apply. Applications close July 6, 2026.