From March 25–28, 2026, Baltimore Clayworks was proud to join the ceramics community in Detroit, Michigan, for NCECA’s 60th Annual Conference, Volumes – a landmark gathering celebrating the depth, energy, and expansiveness of ceramic art.
This year’s conference theme, Volumes, invited artists, educators, and makers to consider the many meanings held within clay: the physical space inside vessels, the conceptual weight of objects, the histories embedded in form, and the ways ceramic practice continues to shape and reflect culture. Set against the powerful backdrop of Detroit, a city defined by resilience, innovation, and creative force, this year’s conference felt especially meaningful.
For Baltimore Clayworks, our time at NCECA was filled with connection, celebration, and deep pride in the artists who make our community so vibrant.
Throughout the week, Baltimore Clayworks was honored to be represented in the NCECA Gallery Expo Hall, where we showcased a dynamic group of artists whose work reflects the breadth of our creative community.
Our featured Expo artists included:
Nicole Aquillano, Cami Ascher, Brady Fanning, Yoshi Fujii, Lana Heckendorn, Matt Hyleck, Hannah Kautto, Shea Kister, Shalya Marsh, Gillian Parke, Shawna Pincus, Kat Pon-Cooper, Kristyn Rohrer, Ali Saunders, and Yoko Sekino-Bove.
Together, their work offered a compelling snapshot of the innovation, craftsmanship, and artistic voice that continue to define Baltimore Clayworks.
Spotlighting Our Resident Artists and Fellows
One of the highlights of our week was the opportunity to present Artist Talks at the NCECA Gallery Expo on Wednesday, March 25. We were thrilled to feature:
- Kristyn Rohrer, 2025–26 Long-term Resident Artist
- Hannah Kautto, 2025–26 Long-term Resident Artist
- Brady Fanning, 2025–26 Lormina Salter Fellow
- Katherine (Kat) Pon-Cooper, 2025–26 EMBARC Fellow
These talks offered conference attendees a chance to hear directly from artists whose practices are pushing material, conceptual, and personal boundaries through clay. Sharing their work on a national stage was a proud moment for Baltimore Clayworks, and a reminder of the importance of investing in artists through residency and fellowship opportunities. You can view these talks on our Instagram page here.
In addition to the formal talks, our booth came alive during Meet the Artists sessions, where visitors had the chance to connect one-on-one with participating artists across Thursday and Friday.
Artists including Kristyn Rohrer, Katherine Pon-Cooper, Gillian Parke, Brady Fanning, Hannah Kautto, Shalya Marsh, Matt Hyleck, Yoshi Fujii, and Shea Kister generously shared their work, process, and perspectives with attendees throughout the conference.
These conversations are at the heart of what makes NCECA so special. Beyond exhibitions and programming, the conference creates space for artists to exchange ideas, build relationships, and inspire one another across regions and generations.
Connecting at Resource Table T49
Baltimore Clayworks also maintained a presence at Resource Table T49 in the Resource Hall, where we had the opportunity to connect with conference-goers, share more about our mission, and invite new audiences into our growing community.
From artists and educators to longtime supporters and first-time visitors, it was energizing to meet so many people who were excited to learn more about Baltimore Clayworks and the work happening in our studios, galleries, and classrooms.
Looking Ahead to Baltimore in 2027
The excitement continued at the closing ceremony when Baltimore Clayworks’ Matt Hyleck joined V. Walton to announce the location of the next NCECA conference: Baltimore, Maryland! The moment was met with enthusiastic applause as the clay community learned that the conference will be heading to our hometown in 2027. We are thrilled to welcome artists, educators, and students from around the globe to Baltimore and to showcase the creativity, resilience, and collaboration that define our city’s arts community.
NCECA conferences are always energizing – filled with new ideas, inspiring conversations, and opportunities to celebrate the power of clay. Our time in Detroit reminded us that ceramics continues to evolve through the voices and visions of artists everywhere. We left Volumes feeling inspired and excited for what lies ahead, especially as we begin preparing to welcome the clay world to Baltimore in 2027.
