Ceramics Open Call: WILD CLAY

About the Open Call

The Taplin Gallery at the Arts Council of Princeton announces "WILD CLAY," a national juried and invitational exhibition. Guest curated and juried by John Reinking and Marg Diaz, the call focuses on artworks made from "wild clay"—personally sourced, uncommercially available clay. This emphasizes tapping into local characteristics, history, ecology, geology, and science, fostering a deeper connection to material origins and reducing reliance on mass production. The exhibition will run from March 21 - April 18, 2026. A Juror’s Award of $250 will be granted to one selected work. Artists are responsible for shipping costs and the gallery takes a 40% commission on sales.

What is Offered

Juror’s Award of $250, Exhibition

Requirements

Artists must be based in the United States and over 18 years of age. Submitted works must have been created in 2023 or later. Artworks cannot exceed 24 inches in any direction, and wall-mounted pieces must be under 50 pounds. All works must be ready to hang/display and available for sale. The primary medium must be ceramic/clay. Works must remain in the gallery for the exhibition duration.

How to Apply

Submissions open on October 1, 2025. Digital submissions must be sent via the provided upload function. All entries must be in JPEG format, RGB, at least 1200 pixels on the longest dimension, 300dpi, and not exceeding 3MB file size. Artists may submit up to three pieces, with one optional detail image per artwork. File naming convention: Last Name_First Name_entry #_Title_Size in inches_Price_Medium_ClaySource.jpg. Questions can be directed to Melissa @ mkuscin@artscouncilofprinceton.org.