2026 Alabama Clay Conference

A celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community.

The 2026 Alabama Clay Conference welcomed ceramic artists from across Alabama and the Southeast for four days of learning, inspiration, and connection. From nationally recognized presenters and hands-on workshops to student mentorship, exhibitions, and longstanding conference traditions, the event celebrated the creativity and generosity that define Alabama's ceramic arts community.

Hosted by the Alabama Visual Arts Network in Huntsville, the conference brought together nearly 300 artists, educators, students, and enthusiasts to share ideas, develop new skills, and build lasting professional and personal connections.

Conference Highlights

• Nearly 300 attendees from across Alabama and the Southeast

• Four internationally recognized featured presenting artists and two visiting artists

• Curtis Benzle Distinguished Artist Lecture

• Hands-on workshops led by accomplished ceramic artists

• Artist exhibitions showcasing exceptional work

• Vendor marketplace featuring leading ceramics suppliers

• Student field trips and educational programming

Featured Presenting Artists

The conference featured nationally recognized ceramic artists Casey Beck, Adrien Miller, Janina Myronowa, and Taylor Sijan, each sharing their unique creative processes, techniques, and artistic perspectives through demonstrations and presentations.

The Distinguished Artist Lecture was presented by Matt Katz, whose lecture offered attendees an engaging look at contemporary ceramic practice and artistic exploration.

Learning & Professional Development

Education remains at the heart of the Alabama Clay Conference. Participants explored new techniques and creative approaches through demonstrations and workshops led by accomplished ceramic artists from across the region.

The conference also continued its commitment to supporting emerging artists through the Visiting Artist Professional Mentorship Program. College students enrolled in ceramics programs received one-on-one portfolio reviews and career guidance from nationally recognized artists Allen Chen and Vincent Frimpong, providing valuable professional feedback during a pivotal stage of their artistic development.

Exhibitions

The conference showcased ceramic work through a variety of exhibitions celebrating artists at every stage of their careers.

Presenters' Exhibition

Held at Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, the Presenters' Exhibition showcased works by the conference's featured artists. The exhibition gave attendees the opportunity to experience each artist's creative practice beyond the demonstration stage, offering a closer look at the ideas, techniques, and craftsmanship behind their work.

Southern Synergies Exhibition

The Southern Synergies Exhibition brought together outstanding ceramic work by college and university students from across the Southeast. The exhibition provided a platform for emerging artists to exchange ideas, build connections with peers and educators, and celebrate the strength of collegiate ceramics programs throughout the region.

The 2026 exhibition featured student artists representing the University of North Georgia, the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Alabama at Montgomery, Alabama State University, the University of Montevallo, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and Jacksonville State University.

Participant Exhibition

The Participant Exhibition celebrated the creativity and talent of conference attendees by inviting artists to exhibit their own ceramic work alongside fellow participants. Artists also had the opportunity to offer their work for sale through the Alabama Clay Market, with a portion of each sale supporting future Alabama Clay Conferences.

K–12 Student Exhibition

The K–12 Student Exhibition showcased outstanding ceramic work by young artists from across Alabama, including students from public, private, and homeschool programs. The exhibition gave students the opportunity to see their work displayed as part of a statewide professional conference, recognizing their creativity alongside accomplished ceramic artists.

The conference also welcomed K–12 students through organized field trips, introducing them to professional ceramic artists, live demonstrations, and exhibitions while encouraging exploration of the visual arts.