42ND ANNUAL
2027 Alabama Clay Conference
February 18–21, 2027 | Downtown Gadsden, Alabama
Four days of clay, creativity, & community.
Join ceramic artists, educators, students, and clay enthusiasts for four days of demonstrations, exhibitions, workshops, the Clay Market, and time together in downtown Gadsden.
MAIN PRESENTING ARTISTS
Meet the artists shaping this year’s conference.
See all four main presenting artists demonstrate at the Pitman Theatre on Friday and Saturday, alongside artist talks and presentations.
Functional stoneware informed by industrial objects, machinery, and architectural forms.Sculptural ceramics inspired by animals, natural history, and the landscape.
Bold, minimalist ceramic objects at the intersection of sculpture and function.
Wheel-thrown and sculptural ceramics exploring heritage, identity, and family stories.Thursday, Feb 18
Round Robins
Afternoon Round Robin demonstrations, followed by the vendor and Clay Market opening reception.
Friday, Feb 19
Presentations & Exhibitions
Main presenter demonstrations, artist talks, ceramic history lecture, and exhibition openings.
Schedule subject to change.
Saturday, Feb 20
Demos & Community
Main presenter demonstrations, artist talks, glaze effects lecture, mug exchange, and evening activities.
Sunday, Feb 21
Round Robins & Workshops
Morning Round Robin demonstrations and hands-on sessions.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Four days of learning, making, & connection.
Round Robin Demonstrations
01 / LEARN
Explore several artists and techniques in one session. Presenters repeat their 45-minute demonstrations four times so you can move freely between them. Open to all attendees; no advance sign-up required.
03 / DISCOVER
Exhibitions
Discover work by presenters and participants, the K–12 Exhibition, Southern Synergies, and the new Handheld exhibition of small-scale ceramic work.
CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES
Four days of learning, making, & connection.
Sunday Hands-On Workshops
02 / MAKE
Work alongside Lionel Clark or Denise Muckleroy Young in focused Sunday sessions. Both hands-on workshops are currently full; contact the conference team about the waitlist.
04 / SHOP
Clay Market
Shop original ceramics and meet participating artists at the Gadsden Civic Center. The market is open Friday and Saturday, following Thursday's opening reception.
Welcome to downtown Gadsen.
Conference activities take place at the Downtown Civic Center, Pitman Theatre, Gadsden Museum of Art, and Center for Cultural Arts.
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):
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Gadsden ($129 a night plus tax)
Hampton Inn Gadsden ($129 a night plus tax)