We recently had the amazing opportunity to attend NCECA 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah—and what an unforgettable experience it was!
With everything going on in the world lately, I expected the trip to be a bit of a challenge… but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The American hosts were fantastic—warm, welcoming, and genuinely excited to share their passion for ceramics.
Salt Lake City threw open its doors to ceramic lovers from around the globe. The conference halls were buzzing with energy—everywhere you turned there were exhibitions, supplier stands, hands-on workshops, and creative showcases. Universities proudly presented their ceramics programs, artists displayed breathtaking work, and even local galleries and studios opened their doors to visiting delegates (some even opened their homes!). It was a full-on celebration of clay and creativity.
So, what exactly is NCECA?
It stands for the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts. Every year, they host this incredible gathering of ceramic artists, educators, suppliers, and institutions. It’s the biggest event of its kind—and trust me, it lives up to the hype. Whether you’re into throwing pots, teaching ceramics, looking for the perfect glazes, or just love the medium, NCECA is where the global ceramics community comes together.
We met passionate ceramic people from all over the world—Spain, France, Japan, Canada, Italy, Brazil, the UK, China, and of course, the USA. And representing South Africa… was me!
For Van Tuyl, this trip was golden.
We caught up with our incredible suppliers like Mayco, Amaco, and Colorobbia to see what’s coming soon (yes—we’re talking about new glazes and goodies launching shortly). We also discovered some exciting new suppliers and products that we can’t wait to bring to you.
Beyond the products, we had great conversations with other kiln makers, tool and equipment suppliers, and international experts. We exchanged ideas, shared techniques, talked shop, and got the inside scoop on global trends. It was equal parts inspiring and energizing.
If you’re a potter, ceramic artist, student, hobbyist, or just someone who loves clay—put NCECA on your bucket list.
It’s a celebration of everything ceramics, and it’s impossible to walk away from it without feeling inspired (and maybe a little giddy about the future of your own studio).
