011FOCUS
From Instagram feeds to hit television shows, pottery is having a moment, and South African ceramic artists are very much part of the movement. This August, some of Gauteng’s best ceramic work will take centre stage at a regional exhibition in Johannesburg.
Ceramics have moved well beyond the traditional pottery studio, becoming part of a global return to slower, more mindful craftsmanship and a growing appreciation for handmade pieces.
South Africa, with its established ceramics culture and community of internationally recognised artists and independent studios, is no exception.
The handmade pottery boom has become particularly visible on social media, where artists are sharing everything from functional tableware to sculptural pieces. Television programmes such as The Great Pottery Throw Down have also helped introduce a new generation to the possibilities of working with clay.
Against this backdrop, the 2026 Ndebele Mining Ceramics Southern Africa Gauteng Regional Ceramic Exhibition will run from 30 August to 6 September 2026 at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg, bringing together some of the region’s standout ceramic work.
Entry to the exhibition is free.
Celebrating the art of clay
Hosted by Ceramics Southern Africa (CSA), the exhibition will feature works selected by experts who evaluate each submission before it makes it onto the exhibition floor.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to meet some of the people behind the pieces. Throughout the exhibition, participating ceramicists will be “pot-sitting” on-site, giving visitors a chance to chat to the artists about their work and learn more about ceramic studios operating across the region.
Master potter Digby Hoets, who won the inaugural regional exhibition in 1972, will return to judge this year’s work and award the prizes.
Among these is the Best Work on Show, sponsored by Strauss & Co, as well as the new Signature Award, sponsored by Rand Merchant Bank, which has been introduced to recognise and support emerging talent.
The exhibition is sponsored by Ndebele Mining, which has supplied milled kaolin, slip-cast and wet pottery clays in South Africa for more than 30 years. Additional prizes are sponsored by Strauss & Co, Rand Merchant Bank and Glazecor, with a focus on encouraging and developing young ceramic talent.
Key dates for ceramic lovers
Artists, including both CSA members and non-members, can submit photographs of their work from 15 to 20 August through the Ceramics Southern Africa website.
The exhibition officially opens at 10:30 on Sunday, 30 August, at Shepstone Gardens, with the opening and awards presentation taking place at 11:00.
A special walkabout featuring some of the exhibiting artists will take place on Wednesday, 2 September.
The exhibition runs until 6 September, with free entrance to the public.
A ceramics community more than 50 years in the making
Founded in 1972, Ceramics Southern Africa is the official representative body for potters across the region.
The organisation works to promote ceramics throughout Southern Africa, raise the standard of work being produced and grow public interest in the craft through regional and national workshops and exhibitions.
With pottery finding a new audience through social media, popular culture and a renewed appreciation for things made by hand, the Gauteng exhibition offers visitors a chance to experience the craft away from the screen and meet some of the artists shaping South Africa’s contemporary ceramics scene.
Leave a Reply