2027 Alabama Clay Conference

February 18–21, 2027 | Downtown Gadsden, Alabama

Today, a lump of clay. Tomorrow, a masterpiece!

Join ceramic artists, educators, students, and clay enthusiasts for four days of demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops, the Clay Market, and time together in downtown Gadsden.

Registration opens October 1 at 8 a.m. CT. Discounted student and volunteer rates are available.

Featured Presenting Artists

Tony Borchardt · Ariel Bowman · Yael Braha · Cesar Pita

See all four artists demonstrate at the Pitman Theatre on Friday and Saturday. The schedule also includes individual artist talks and presentations.

Conference Schedule at a Glance

  • Thursday, February 18: Round Robins; vendor and Clay Market opening reception.

  • Friday, February 19: Main presenter demonstrations and artist talks; ceramic history lecture; exhibition openings.

  • Saturday, February 20: Main presenter demonstrations and artist talks; glaze effects lecture; mug exchange and evening activities.

  • Sunday, February 21: Round Robins and hands-on sessions.

[View the Full Schedule]

Schedule subject to change.

Round Robin Demonstrations

New this year, our round robins let you see several artists demonstrate in one session. Each presenter repeats a 45-minute demonstration four times, so you can move between presenters and choose which ones to see. Round robins are open to all conference attendees, and no advance sign-up is required. Round robins take place Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning.

  • Thursday presenters: Raine Middleton, Kathy Skaggs, A.J. Argentina, Linda Munoz, and Stacy Blalock.

  • Sunday presenters: Denise Phillips, Lora Rust, Mark Rigsby, Guadalupe Robinson, Cat Traen, and Rob Lawarre III.

[Learn More About Round Robin Demonstrations]

Sunday Hands-On Workshops

Make something alongside one of our hands-on presenters on Sunday, February 21:

  • Lionel Clark: 9–10:30 a.m. at the Civic Center

  • Denise Muckleroy Young: 10 a.m.–noon at the Civic Center and outdoors

Hands-on sessions require advance sign-up. Add your chosen session when you register for the conference.

Exhibitions

See ceramic work by conference presenters and participants, along with the K–12 Exhibition and Southern Synergies, featuring college and university students.

New this year, Handheld is an exhibition open to conference participants. Submit one or more sculptural or functional ceramic pieces. Each piece must measure less than 6 × 3 × 3 inches and fit inside a closed large cone box. Work will be displayed at the Civic Center during the conference and may be offered for sale.

Clay Market

Shop ceramic work at the Clay Market in the Civic Center. The market opens with a reception Thursday evening and continues Friday and Saturday.

[Learn More About the 2027 Clay Market]

Plan Your Visit

Conference activities take place at the Downtown Civic Center, Pitman Theatre, Gadsden Museum of Art, and Center for Cultural Arts.

Conference hotel block (call hotel directly to book or use links below):

Ready to Join Us?

[Register for the 2027 Alabama Clay Conference]

Discounted student and volunteer registration rates are available.

Questions? Contact info@alvisarts.org.

Follow the Alabama Visual Arts Network on social media for the latest announcements, artist features, registration updates, and more as we prepare for another exceptional conference.

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Tony Borchardt

Tony Borchardt creates functional stoneware inspired by industrial objects, machinery, and architectural forms. Combining wheel-thrown and handbuilt techniques with richly textured surfaces, his work reflects a lifelong commitment to craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and the intersection of form and function.

Ariel Bowman

Inspired by the natural world, Ariel Bowman creates sculptural ceramics and mixed media works that reflect a lifelong fascination with animals and the landscapes that shaped her. She earned her BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and her MFA from the University of Florida, and her work is included in the collections of the Belger Arts Center, the Florida Museum of Natural History, and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.

Yael Braha

Yael Braha is an Italian artist of North African descent whose bold, minimalist ceramic works blur the line between sculpture and function. Combining influences from graphic design and contemporary craft, she creates refined one-of-a-kind objects that have been exhibited internationally and recognized by leading institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, the American Craft Council, and the Mino International Ceramic Triennale in Japan.

Cesar Pita

Born in Los Angeles and raised in the South, Cesar Pita creates wheel-thrown and sculptural ceramics that explore family history, cultural identity, and the experiences of first-generation Latino children. Drawing on his own heritage and his family's connection to clay, his work honors immigrant communities while celebrating resilience, tradition, and the stories carried across generations.

Mission of the Alabama Clay Conference

The Alabama Clay Conference is an initiative of the Alabama Visual Arts Network, serving practitioners and students of the ceramic arts. Through a mix of exhibitions and educational programming, the conference builds professionalism, sharpens technique, and pushes artistic expression forward — celebrating what makes ceramics in Alabama distinct.

Now approaching its 42nd year, the Conference is ALVAN's longest-running program. Each year a different host site brings its own character to the event, drawing ceramicists from Alabama and beyond to take part in its exhibitions and workshops.