Selected from more that 200 entries, the 18 functional ceramic pieces that follow were made with their use in mind. These works, selected for their exceptional skill and creativity, showcase the many ways potters approach function, from cups, to specialty platters and dishes, to punch bowls, and more. —Eds. 

Marret Metzger’s Milkweed Chalice, 6 in. (15.2 cm) in diameter, handbuilt porcelain, sgraffito, fired in oxidation to cone 5, 2025.

Dallas Wooten’s Painted Bowl Stack, 6 in. (15.2 cm) in height, porcelain, underglaze, multiple glazes, fired in oxidation to cone 6, 2025. Chance Taylor’s Water Lily Ewer, 8½ in. (21.6 cm) in diameter, stoneware, multiple glazes, fired in oxidation to cone 6, 2025.

Justin Leavitt’s Cordyceps Mug No. IX, 5¾ in. (14.6 cm) in width, wheel-thrown, altered, and assembled porcelain, hollow-thrown knob handles, clear glaze, multiple iridescent rare-earth-element-dominant and zinc-silicate crystalline glazes, Andrew Boswell’s medium jar, 8½ in. (21.6 cm) in height, wheel-thrown and carved Standard Clay Company 257 Grolleg Porcelain, iron oxide wash, crystalline glaze, fired in oxidation to cone 10, acid etched, 2023.

Maddie Gage’s butter dish, 7 in. (17.8 cm) in length, B-Mix clay, underglaze, porcelain slip, clear glaze, fired to cone 6, 2025.

Carter Pasma’s sake pourer, 7 in. (17.8 cm) in height, high-alumina porcelaneous stoneware, fired to cone 10 in a soda kiln, reduction cooled, 2024. Gillan Doty’s serving tray, 10½ in. (26.7 cm) in height, handbuilt North Carolina stoneware, white slip, clear glaze, fired in reduction to cone 10 in a gas kiln, 2024.

Audry Deal-McEver’s punch bowl, 14 in. (35.6 cm) in width, porcelain/white-stoneware blend of clay, glaze, fired in oxidation to cone 6, 2023.

Carey Nathanson’s OD Cup, 3 in. (7.6 cm) in diameter, stoneware, Oribe glaze, fired to cone 9, 2024.

Jon Stein’s Bottle with Unicorn Stopper, 10 in. (25.4 cm) in height, B-Mix 10 clay, fired to cone 11 in a soda kiln, 2025. Matt Hiller’s Floral Coffee Pour-over Set, to 12 in. (30.5 cm) in height, red stoneware, fired to cone 5, 2025.

Hailey Piché’s Banana Platter, 16½ in. (41.9 cm) in width, red stoneware, terra sigillata, colored slip, glaze, underglaze, crayon, sgraffito, fired to cone 6 in a soda kiln, 2024. Stephen Phillips’ Firebrick on Cinnamon Decanter Set #212, to 10½ in. (26.7 cm) in height, wheel-thrown white stoneware, underglaze, glaze, tape resist, fired in oxidation to cone 5.

Tina Gebhart’s Five Days a Week: Pushing Off the Bottom, 22 in. (55.9 cm) in width, salvaged stoneware, wheel thrown, fired in reduction to cone 10, 2025.

Delanie Kabrick Wise’s Untitled #3, 7 in. (17.8 cm) in length, white stoneware, fired in reduction to cone 10 in a soda kiln, 2025.

Kat Wheeler’s Swing Top Whiskey Bottle and Sipper, 10¼ in. (26 cm) in height, wheel-thrown ceramic, black and thick slips, amber ash glaze, fired to cone 6. Heidi McKay Casto’s Let Us Guide You Through These Rocky Times, 11 in. (27.9 cm) in height, wheel-thrown and handbuilt porcelain, underglaze, glaze, fired in oxidation to cone 5, 2025.

 

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