1001 Pots Returns to the Laurentians for Its 37th Edition
Every summer, the village of Val-David, nestled in Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains just north of Montreal, becomes a gathering place for ceramic artists, collectors, and clay enthusiasts. From July 3 to August 16, 2026, 1001 Pots returns for its 37th edition, transforming a lush garden setting into one of North America’s most vibrant celebrations of contemporary ceramics.
Recognized as the continent’s largest outdoor ceramics exhibition, 1001 Pots brings together more than 120 ceramic artists from Quebec and beyond. Visitors are invited to spend the day wandering through the open-air exhibition, meeting makers, attending demonstrations, and discovering a remarkable diversity of functional and sculptural ceramics.
“What makes 1001 Pots irreplaceable is the sense of connection it fosters between people, with the artists, and with the material,” says Sacha Ghadiri, President of 1001 Pots. “In a world saturated with information and speed, spending a day in this garden watching a piece come to life, talking with the person who made it, is a rare experience.”
More than an exhibition, 1001 Pots offers an immersive environment where ceramics, nature, and culture intersect. Workshops, artist residencies, concerts, and performances create a dynamic atmosphere that attracts over 50,000 visitors each year.
Guest Artists: Jean-François Bourlard and Valérie Blaize
One of this year’s highlights is the residency of French artists Jean-François Bourlard and Valérie Blaize. United by an experimental approach and a shared fascination with material transformation, the two artists explore the possibilities of ceramics through installations, performances, and unconventional firing processes.
At Espace K, visitors will discover an exhibition featuring two major projects from their practice: 1400° and Raku Punk. Throughout July, Bourlard and Blaize will be in residence at 1001 Pots, offering public talks, masterclasses, and open studio sessions that provide insight into their creative process.
The residency culminates on July 21 with Raku Punk, a live performance in which fire becomes both medium and spectacle. Combining experimental firing, molten glaze, theatrical staging, and raw physical gesture, the performance pushes ceramics beyond the studio and into the realm of live art. The residency is organized in collaboration with the Rozynski Art Centre, with support from the CALQ.
Artists in Residence
Alongside the guest artists, 1001 Pots will host a series of ceramic residencies that invite visitors into the heart of the making process.
Lou-Anne Daoust-Filiatrault will create large-scale stoneware forms assembled from thrown sections, exploring scale, gravity, and modular construction. Eve-Marie Laliberté will investigate colour and pattern through nerikomi and slip-casting techniques. Roxane Charest will develop sculptural works combining wheel-throwing and deformation, while Ellora Rangaya will create 101 handles conceived as individual micro-sculptures.
The residency program will also welcome Concordia University graduates Edmond Rochette Pelletier and Célia Beauchesne, whose collaborative project explores the intersection of ceramics and printmaking.
Workshops and Masterclasses
Education remains central to the mission of 1001 Pots. The 2026 edition features more than 50 courses and workshops for participants ranging from children and beginners to professional ceramic artists.
Highlights include intensive handbuilding workshops with Catherine Parent-Gibbard, a week-long exploration of colour, texture, and glazes with Annie Fournier, and wheel-throwing courses led by Audrey-Kim Forand, Evelyn Charette, and Paule Vézina. Bourlard will also lead a workshop on experimental firing techniques, while Blaize will offer a masterclass on image transfer in ceramics.
Ceramics, Community, and Culture
Beyond clay, 1001 Pots continues to cultivate a broader cultural experience. Throughout the summer, the Jardin de Silice hosts intimate outdoor concerts, while the surrounding village of Val-David offers a thriving arts scene rooted in craftsmanship and creativity.
For ceramic artists, collectors, and anyone interested in contemporary craft, 1001 Pots remains one of North America’s most distinctive destinations—a place where ceramics are not only exhibited, but lived, shared, and celebrated.
For more information, visit www.1001pots.com
Photos © Virginie Blais
