Seeing the entries to this year’s exhibition has brought me joy and pride for the field of ceramics. Through the jurying process I was impressed with ceramic artists who are addressing social issues and paying homage to historical methods, all while creating deeply personal objects.

While many pieces in the show deserve mention, I want to highlight the awardees, whom I have chosen for the clarity of their ideas and mastery of material. With The Caged Bird Chelsea McMaster uses ceramic braids and aesthetics from the black diaspora to weave a delicate artifice that protects, but also restrains the enclosed object. In American Huaco: Immigrant Punk Guillermo Guardia uses an iconic Peruvian form as a platform to highlight immigration as the cornerstone of our global culture. Stephen Earp’s Bianco Floral is a technical tour de force that upholds decorative labor as a path to beauty and meaning. Collectively these artists use their aesthetic to push the field of ceramics in new directions, while firmly celebrating the nature of the ceramic material itself.

As we head into 2026 in a country in turmoil, I invite the viewer to experience the catharsis these artists have provided by addressing our problems and providing inspiration that might unite us. We need the truth seeking and vision that artists provide to help us heal from the wounds of so much recent cruelty and embrace the compassion that is the highest potential of our national identity.

Ben Carter is an artist and educator based in New Jersey. He maintains a studio, teaches workshops, and exhibits internationally. He is the host of Tales of a Red Clay Rambler, as well as the executive producer for The Brickyard Network, a collection of ceramic podcasts. www.carterpottery.com