That's a Wrap! NCECA 2026: Volumes
Last week, Clay Art Center staff traveled to Detroit, Michigan to take part in the 60th annual NCECA conference, Volumes.
Clay Art Center staff represented our organization at a resource table and gallery booth at this year’s NCECA conference in Detroit, Michigan. NCECA, or the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, has been hosting the conference for 60 years now, and they’re a great opportunity to meet other ceramics enthusiasts, share information between studios, and engage with the amazingly varied world of ceramics. Below, you can hear more from Clay Art Center staff about their favorite experiences at the conference.
Jessica Zeng, Programs and Operations Manager: “In the hustle and bustle of NCECA, a few of my favorite moments included seeing the variety of work from different artists, chatting with enthusiastic customers, and going to the pop-ups and exhibitions outside of the convention center. I could tell that the attendees were truly clay-enthusiasts, from the way they carefully picked up artwork and examined details, to the way they would delight in stumbling upon the work of specific artists. I definitely felt I was among familiar kin.”
Emily Peck, Executive Director: “It is always wonderful to connect in person with our colleagues at community studios across the country, past Clay Art Center Resident Artists, and an entire world of people passionate about ceramics. We were able to introduce the artists who sell in our shop to the 6,000 attendees and show off what makes the Clay Art Center community so creative! On Saturday, I got a chance to leave the convention center and see some exhibitions. I was particularly inspired by the Ceramics x Fiber exhibition at Pewabic Pottery. Our staff has already been experimenting with how to combine fiber arts and ceramics in the current Many Hands exhibition. This gave me so many more ideas for the future.”
Regina Farrell-Fagan, Exhibitions and Marketing Director: “One of my favorite things about NCECA is when we host a Gallery Expo Booth and get to present our Shop artists to people from all over the US! Watching someone pick up say, a cup from a Clay Art Center artist, and fall in love with it and purchase it is so exciting. Very often, shoppers will be making just a few, choice purchases and have a budget set for themselves. The fact that they choose a piece from our booth makes the sale so much more meaningful. We also get to share little stories and tidbits about the work and the artists, especially since we know so many of them personally. It's wonderful!
“This year at NCECA, I also got to meet Siofra Murdock and Emma Mc Keagney, who are setting up exciting residency opportunities at Throwing Shapes in my hometown of Dublin, Ireland. Besides the fact that I am excited to see a great community studio serve the needs of artists in Dublin, I was also excited to hear the accents of my home, and make the personal connection. If NCECA is about anything else besides pots, it's about connection!”
Lucy McGrath, Program Manager: “I love reconnecting with artists we know at NCECA, but it’s also the best way to discover new artists and make new connections. I love running into the artists who I’ve worked with to set up workshops at Clay Art Center, and it’s a joy to see them in person again. If I catch a bit of their demos, that’s always fun!
“"I enjoy watching attendees choose a piece from the Gallery Expo Booth, ask us about the artist while they check out, and then the realization that we are the connection for the artists we represent to the public and other artists. Representing so many artists and giving them a chance to be discovered by people at NCECA is a wonderful feeling! There is a joy to seeing the customers so happy with their purchases and wanting to chat about the artists, especially when we know so many of them personally.
“NCECA is busy with a Gallery Expo Booth and a Resource Table, but flying out late on the last day gave us a chance to visit museums and exhibits. Our visit to the Pewabic Pottery and the Ceramics x Fiber exhibition were great, the demonstrations at Pewabic were very informative and the exhibition gave me some inspiration for my continued exploration of ceramics with fiber arts.”
August Brosnahan, Studio Manager: “One of my favorite parts of NCECA is being able to work the Gallery Expo Booth and speak directly with the people purchasing and making our ceramics is always such a joy. Normally I am not connected with the selling aspect of our Galley and Shop, so being able to discover what work sparks joy in people and why is always a fun discussion. Visiting other studios is also an amazing way to discover simple differences that can make changes in our own studio. I was able to have a nice discussion with the techs and educators at the Pewabic Pottery Education Studio on how they run their studios and the different ways we have addressed similar questions. “
