SAVE THE DATE!
an immersive
ceramics-focused event
Thursday, February 25 - Sunday, February 28, 2027
ceramics
take over wheeling
is a citywide event that celebrates ceramic artists and clay enthusiasts alike. Galleries and venues across the “Friendly City” are excited to showcase the very best in contemporary and traditional ceramic art during this incredible four-day experience.
Visit Wheeling, WV February 25 - 28 for four days and three nights of amazing ceramics events! Attend workshops, sit in on artist demos and talks, explore the city through nine art openings, and end your trip with the Pottery Throwdown. Visit our unique local restaurants and taverns and fall in love with Oglebay Park and the historic charm of Wheeling.
Special lodging packages are available at the Wilson Lodge in world-class Oglebay Park. Enjoy beautiful accommodations, breakfast each day, admission to the artist demonstrations, talks, and Pottery Throwdown competition as well as exclusive meet-and-greet cocktail parties to open and close this exciting weekend.
juried exhibitions
EARTH & FIRE
February 27 - April 10, 2027
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 1, 2026
Click HERE to see the 2026 Exhibition Catalog
February 27 – April 10, 2027
Stifel Fine Arts Center
Earth & Fire is a national juried ceramic exhibition offering $7,000 in total cash prizes.
Best in Show receives $4,000
Solo exhibition and workshop opportunity in 2027.
Jury opportunity for Intercollegiate Ceramics in 2027.
2nd prize: $1500.00
3rd prize: $1000.00
2 merit awards: $250.00 each
Juried by: Dr. Benjamin Evans & Wayne Higby
of Alfred Ceramics Art Museum, NY
Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center will be hosting a national juried exhibition of ceramic art on February 27 - April 10, 2027. This is the fifth annual exhibition and will be a focal point of the Ceramics Take Over Wheeling programming.
Ceramics Take Over Wheeling is a citywide event that will celebrate ceramic artists and clay enthusiasts alike. Galleries and venues across the “Friendly City” are excited to showcase the very best in contemporary and traditional ceramic art during this four-day experience.
Regular gallery hours are 9am-5pm, Monday through Friday and 10am-4pm, Saturday. Evening hours vary, please call 304-242-7700 for more information. Admission is free.
Dr. Benjamin Evans
The Wayne Higby Director and Principal Curator, Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
MEET THE JURORS
Dr. Benjamin Evans is an artist, scholar, arts administrator, and curator with 25 years of experience in the non-profit arts profession. Immediately prior to joining Alfred University, he served as coordinator for the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC) at the Ariana Museum of Ceramics and Glass in Geneva, Switzerland. The IAC is affiliated with UNESCO, with 1,000 members representing 81 countries across the globe.
Wayne Higby
Ceramic artist, Professor Emeritus of Ceramic Art at Alfred University,
and former Director of the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
Wayne Higby is internationally recognized for his contributions to the ceramic arts. His work is held in the permanent collections of numerous art museums around the world and is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently The Smithsonian Institution's Visionary Award honoring his contributions in the field of ceramic art and education in April 2026. Higby is a member of Honor of the United States National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA), a Life Trustee of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and the former Vice President of the International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland.
best In show 2026
matthew skelly
Altar Figure
2nd place winner
Justin rothshank
Teapot with Structure Handle
3rd place winner
Jason hess
Teapot with Structure Handle
honorable mention
casey beck
Jug
honorable mention
tony kukich
Bob’s Your Uncle
INTERCOLLEGIATE
Ceramics 2027
DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 1, 2026
February 25 – April 10, 2027
West Liberty University
The intercollegiate show is a national juried ceramic exhibition offering $3,000 in total cash prizes.
Best in Show receives $2,000
One year membership in NCECA, and paid
registration to the 2028 conference.Solo exhibition and workshop opportunity in 2028.
2nd prize: $500.00
3rd prize: $350.00
2 merit awards: $75.00 each
Juried by: Earth & Fire 2026 Best in Show artist Matthew Skelly
matthew skelly
Juror for Intercollegiate Ceramics 2027
Matthew Skelly, is a visual artist originally from California. His practice is centered around hand-built functional and sculptural ceramic objects adorned with decorative illustrative surfaces.
His work has been featured in exhibitions across the United States and internationally, including the International Ceramics Competition in Mino, Japan and the Taiwan Ceramics Biennale in New Taipei City, Taiwan, both in 2024.
He has received various honors, including the Innovator Award at the 33rd Annual Strictly Functional Pottery National, the Studio Potter Merit Award at the 2025 NCECA Juried Student Exhibition, and the Best in Show Prize at the 2026 Earth & Fire exhibition.
Matthew is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
Friends of the Take Over Foundation, in partnership with historic West Liberty University, will be hosting the national collegiate exhibition of ceramic art in February and March 2027. This exhibit will celebrate and honor the college ceramic artist. The juror will be Earth & Fire 2026 best in show artist Matthew Skelly.
Intercollegiate Ceramics 2027 is the kick-off event for Ceramics Take Over Wheeling, a citywide event celebrating ceramic artists and enthusiasts alike. Galleries and venues across the “Friendly City” are excited to showcase the very best in contemporary and traditional ceramic art during this 4-day festival.
Opening Reception
Join us from Thursday, February 25 in the Nutting Gallery
at West Liberty University
Explore the exhibit, discover who the winning artists are, and enjoy refreshments, while taking in the beautiful collegiate Gothic architecture of the first institution of higher education in WV.
The exhibit is on display through April 10, 2027.
February 26 – April 10, 2027
Wilson Lodge, Oglebay Park
- Opening Reception -
Join us 8:00-10:00pm Friday, February 26 outside the Hickman Lounge at Wilson Lodge for the opening reception of the our second annual competition The Keystone Kiln Wars!
The exhibit is on display through April 10, 2027.
KEYSTONE
KILN WARS 2027
PITTSBURGH
CENTER FOR ARTS & MEDIA
THE BRIDGE
PHILADELPHIA’S
THE CLAY STUDIO
THE BELL
LOCALLY
CENTERED 2027
February 27 – April 10, 2027
Wheeling Park, The White Palace
- Opening Reception -
Join us 5:00-7:00pm Saturday, February 27 in the White Palace at Wheeling Park for the opening reception of the our
third annual exhibition celebrating the ceramics of our region!
The exhibit is on display through March 27, 2027.
Local Wheeling Ceramic Exhibitions
The Gallery at 2265 will be hosting ceramic works by Matthew Skelly (Best in Show: Earth & Fire 2026). There will be an artist opening reception on Friday, February 26th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. The exhibition will continue until April 10, 2027.
Click Here for more information about The Gallery at 2265
2265 Market St, Wheeling, WV 26003
Artworks Around Town will be hosting ceramic works by Christy Culp. The show will open with a Gallery Hop on Friday, February 26th from 5:00 until 7 p.m. in the Centre Market. The event is free and open to the public and is a great opportunity to meet the talented potter. The exhibition will continue through March 2027.
Click Here for more information about Artworks Around Town.
2200 Market St, Wheeling, WV 26003
The Gallery at Towngate Theater will be hosting To Untitle. featuring the work of Matthew Wilhelm (Turner Teaching Fellow at Alfred University).
The opening reception will take place on Friday February 26th from 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibition will continue until April 10, 2027.
Click Here for more information about Towngate Theater.
2118 Market St, Wheeling, WV 26003
West Liberty University will be hosting Intercollegiate Ceramics 2027, juried by Matthew Skelly, in the Nutting Gallery.
The opening reception will take place on Thursday February 25th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The exhibition will continue until April 10, 2027
The Wheeling Artisan Center will be hosting ceramic works by Joey Downey (Best in Show: Intercollegiate Ceramics 2026).
The Show will have an artists opening on Friday February 26th starting 7:00pm.
Click here for more information.
1400 Main St, Wheeling, WV 26003