Ceramics Western Cape

12/06/2026

The Non-Juried Members’ Invitational theme for 2026 is WAR and PEACE.

“War and Peace” invites reflection on one of humanity’s most enduring and complex dualities. It speaks not only to armed conflict and resolution it invites reflection on one of humanity’s most enduring and complex dualities. It speaks not only to armed conflict and resolution on a global scale, but also to the quieter wars and reconciliations that exist within individuals, communities, and the landscapes we inhabit.

Ceramics and sculpture are especially powerful mediums for engaging with this theme. Clay holds a natural tension between fragility and strength, collapse and repair—making it an ideal material through which to explore rupture, resilience, and transformation. The act of working with clay can itself become metaphorical: pressure, breakage, rebuilding, and refinement all echo the
cycles of conflict and healing.

Importantly, art is not always about beauty in the conventional sense. It can be confrontational, uncomfortable, and deeply reflective. It has long served as a medium for engaging with socio-political realities, bearing witness to injustice, memory, and lived experience.

Any member of Ceramics Western Cape can participate in the non-juried invitational exhibition. 1 piece per member only. The size of the piece must fit in a cube of 20 x 20 x 20 cm.
All pieces must be for sale.

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Further information is in the CWC June Quarterly newsletter. For information on HOW TO ENTER the Ceramics Western Cape ANNUAL EXHIBITION visit www.ceramicswc.co.za

To renew membership or join Ceramics Western Cape contact Chantal Charan [email protected] 079 372 8125

10/06/2026

Meet the Selectors

Amogelang Maepa (b. 1995) is a South African ceramic artist and visual storyteller from Mabopane, Gauteng.

She studied Ceramics and Printmaking at the Tshwane University of Technology, graduating with a National Diploma in 2017.

Since emerging as a young artist, Amo has gained significant recognition through programmes such as RMB Talent Unlocked (2019) and Berman Contemporary’s New Vanguard mentorship programme (2020).

Her work has been exhibited locally and
internationally, including at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, and Art Cologne in Germany.

Working primarily in ceramics, Amo transforms clay from a functional material into a powerful vehicle for personal expression. Hand-building her sculptures from layered clay slabs, she creates dynamic forms that suggest movement, growth, and breath. Her practice explores the complexities of human emotion, examining themes such as desire, control, repetition, fatigue, and release.

Through an introspective process of translating lived experiences into sculptural form, Amo creates deeply personal works that invite reflection on the emotional landscapes that shape our lives.

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For information on HOW TO ENTER the Ceramics Western Cape ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION visit www.ceramicswc.co.za

To renew membership or join Ceramics Western Cape contact Chantal Charan [email protected] 079 372 8125

10/06/2026

Meet the Selectors

Zanoxolo Sylvester Mqeku is an acclaimed South African contemporary ceramic artist and sculptor from the Eastern Cape. He is renowned as the only artist in Africa pioneering the technique of sand-cast ceramics, combining traditional clay practices with modern technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting.

His sculptural works explore African philosophy, ecology, and imagined future landscapes through textured, organic, and geometric forms. Sylvester gained national recognition after winning the StateoftheART Gallery Award in 2021, which led to his solo exhibition Birth of the Alter Natural, addressing themes of climate change and environmental transformation.

Born in Mount Fletcher in 1987, Sylvester initially studied architectural technology before pursuing ceramics and fine art. He holds qualifications in Ceramic Design and Fine Art from the Tshwane University of Technology and has participated in prestigious initiatives including the inaugural Black Rock Senegal residency in Dakar.

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For information on HOW TO ENTER the Ceramics Western Cape ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION visit www.ceramicswc.co.za

To renew membership or join Ceramics Western Cape contact Chantal Charan [email protected] 079 372 8125

10/06/2026

Meet the Awards Judge & Selector

Born in Gugulethu, Cape Town, in 1975, Madoda Fani is one of South Africa’s most celebrated contemporary ceramic artists. Inspired by his Xhosa heritage, he creates hand-coiled, burnished, and smoke-fired works that reimagine traditional Southern African ceramic practices through a distinctly contemporary lens.

Madoda discovered his passion for clay while studying at Sivuyile College and later refined his smoke-firing and burnishing techniques under the mentorship of renowned ceramicists Simon Masilo, Nic Sithole, and Jabu Nala.

His large-scale sculptural vessels are characterised by organic forms and intricate carved patterns inspired by natural textures, particularly insect exoskeletons.

Over a career spanning more than two decades, Madoda has exhibited extensively in South Africa and internationally, including major solo exhibitions with Southern Guild and participation in the 2024 Indian Ocean Craft Triennial in Australia.

His work has evolved beyond ceramics to include furniture and bronze sculpture, and he has undertaken artist residencies in Argentina, France, Austria, Mexico, and Australia.

A finalist for the 2022 LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize and winner of numerous awards, including First Prize at the 2016 Ceramics Southern Africa Exhibition, Fani's work is held in prominent public and private collections worldwide, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Mint Museum, the LOEWE Foundation, and Princeton University Art Museum.

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For information on HOW TO ENTER the Ceramics Western Cape ANNUAL MEMBERS EXHIBITION visit www.ceramicswc.co.za

To renew membership or join Ceramics Western Cape contact Chantal Charan [email protected] 079 372 8125

08/06/2026

A proud moment for South Africa 🇿🇦 Imiso Ceramics Andile Dyalvane

07/06/2026

Annual Members Juried Exhibition 2026 entries open: 2-5 July

This competition has been going for
more than 50 years, and showcases the best in contemporary ceramics, selected and judged by luminaries in the fine art and ceramics world.

The exhibition focuses on CONTEMPORARY CERAMICS that reflect the dynamic, diverse, and constantly evolving nature of modern ceramic art. This category celebrates work that pushes the boundaries of traditional pottery through innovation in form, technique, and concept.

The exhibition also has two
invitational sections:
The Fellows and the Members
Themed Invitational. The 2026 invitational theme is "War & Peace".

More information and t&c's are available in our June quarterly newsletter and www.ceramicswc.co.za

To renew membership or join Ceramics Western Cape contact Chantal Charan [email protected] 079 372 8125

01/06/2026

Imiso Ceramics

25/05/2026

Hermanus FynArts Ceramics

🎨✨ Discover a World of Art at FynArts 2026

Step into the inspiring world of the FynArts Festival and explore a stunning collection of art exhibitions in beautiful Hermanus from 6 – 14 June 2026.

Experience the creativity, craftsmanship, and imagination of talented artists through a variety of exceptional exhibitions, including:

🏺 Ceramics
🧵 Fibre Art
🗿 Sculpture on the Cliffs
🚶 Sculptors’ Legacy Walk
✨ Small Sculptures

From striking large-scale installations to beautifully detailed handcrafted pieces, the exhibitions promise inspiration around every corner.

Take a walk, explore the galleries, soak up the atmosphere, and celebrate the incredible creativity that makes FynArts such a special winter experience.

🎟️ Book your tickets and come experience the art, beauty, and creativity of FynArts 2026.
www.hermanusfynarts.co.za