In this May issue, I am thrilled to present the 20 finalists of Ceramics Monthly’s 2025 Emerging Artist contest. Selected from nearly 700 entries, these artists demonstrate the innovation, skillful and intentional craft, and conceptual strength of the current ceramics field. Each artist provides a bit of context surrounding their work in answering a few of our questions on their inspirations, practice, journey in clay, and processes.
To arrive at the 20 artists shown in the pages that follow, our editorial team reviewed each entry for its cohesiveness, originality, craft, contextualization within its chosen area of interest, communication of concepts, and quality of submitted images. Artists must have been pursuing a career in ceramics for ten years or fewer. This year’s review was particularly challenging as the level of submissions was high, reflecting the talent and creativity of ceramic artists finding their voices in clay today.
One thing that struck me about this year’s group of finalists, as well as the submission pool as a whole, is a sense of freshness. I was excited to see so many new applicants, others who had previously applied and since made strides in the studio, and work I didn’t recognize from coverage online or in galleries. It’s refreshing and energizing to see new objects and new perspectives emerging in our field.
If you want to see your work in Ceramics Monthly, I encourage you to apply for our annual readership-wide contest. In the upcoming September issue, we will feature vessels of all sorts in the contest “Function Focused.” I hope to see thoughtful applications of clay in unexpected uses around the home and garden, hyper-specific dishes for serving food and drink, tried-and-true daily wares designed for comfort and durability, and more. Scan the QR code below for details on submitting. I can’t wait to see what you share.
In addition to the 2025 Emerging Artists, in this issue we present Erin Shafkind’s discussion of the high-contrast, ornament-inspired work of Elisabeth Kley; Joe Singewald’s basement studio; an explanation of what’s trending in glazes; and Brit McDaniel’s path in and out of the clay business. Enjoy!
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In this May issue, I am thrilled to present the 20 finalists of Ceramics Monthly’s 2025 Emerging Artist contest. Selected from nearly 700 entries, these artists demonstrate the innovation, skillful and intentional craft, and conceptual strength of the current ceramics field. Each artist provides a bit of context surrounding their work in answering a few of our questions on their inspirations, practice, journey in clay, and processes.
To arrive at the 20 artists shown in the pages that follow, our editorial team reviewed each entry for its cohesiveness, originality, craft, contextualization within its chosen area of interest, communication of concepts, and quality of submitted images. Artists must have been pursuing a career in ceramics for ten years or fewer. This year’s review was particularly challenging as the level of submissions was high, reflecting the talent and creativity of ceramic artists finding their voices in clay today.
One thing that struck me about this year’s group of finalists, as well as the submission pool as a whole, is a sense of freshness. I was excited to see so many new applicants, others who had previously applied and since made strides in the studio, and work I didn’t recognize from coverage online or in galleries. It’s refreshing and energizing to see new objects and new perspectives emerging in our field.
If you want to see your work in Ceramics Monthly, I encourage you to apply for our annual readership-wide contest. In the upcoming September issue, we will feature vessels of all sorts in the contest “Function Focused.” I hope to see thoughtful applications of clay in unexpected uses around the home and garden, hyper-specific dishes for serving food and drink, tried-and-true daily wares designed for comfort and durability, and more. Scan the QR code below for details on submitting. I can’t wait to see what you share.
In addition to the 2025 Emerging Artists, in this issue we present Erin Shafkind’s discussion of the high-contrast, ornament-inspired work of Elisabeth Kley; Joe Singewald’s basement studio; an explanation of what’s trending in glazes; and Brit McDaniel’s path in and out of the clay business. Enjoy!
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