Quarry Ceramic Awards (QCA) 2026
đș QCA 2026 đș
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Event |
Date |
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Submissions Open |
3 Nov 2025Â |
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Submissions Close |
28 Feb 2026, 11:59pm |
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Entrant Notifications |
5 March 2026Â |
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Delivery of Selected Works |
23-28 Mar 2026Â |
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Awards & Opening |
10 April 2026, 5pm |
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Exhibition |
11 Apr â 2 May 2026Â |
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Collection of Unsold Works |
4-9 May 2026Â |
A Quick History of the Quarry Ceramics AwardsÂ
Ceramics awards have been part of Northlandâs art scene for over 20 years. For the first 15 years, the event ran as the Northland Potters Award, founded by Susie Leigh Rogers in partnership with New Zealand Potters to celebrate local ceramic artists. It was a $1000 acquisitive award sponsored by the WhangÄrei District Council, whose collection can still be viewed at Forum North and Botanica Gardens.Â
In 2018, the Quarry Arts Centre took over the awards, expanding them into a national event called the Open Ceramics Award, with the same top prize. In 2022, it became the Quarry Ceramics Awards, adding more categories and increasing the prize pool.Â
Quarry Ceramic Awards 2026 â Judges & Finalists
Weâre thrilled to introduce the judges for the Quarry Ceramic Awards 2026! Each of our judges is a practicing artist, an active member of the Quarry Arts Centre, and a passionate supporter of ceramic and uku artists, fostering opportunities and creative growth in our creative community. Their insight, experience, and dedication make them the perfect champions for celebrating the outstanding work of this yearâs finalists.
Judges:
- Alicia Courtney â Curator of Hihiaua Cultural Centre and Chair of the Northland Craft Trust
- Barry Squire â Artist and Coâowner/Director of Hangar Art & Framing
- Megan Corbett â Artist and Coâowner/Director of Hangar Art & Framing
To read more about our judges please see our QCA Judges blog post
Quarry Ceramic Awards 2026 Finalists
We are delighted to announce the talented artists selected as finalists for the 2026 Quarry Ceramic Awards! Their works will be exhibited at the Yvonne Rust Gallery from 11 April â 2 May 2026, with the awards announced at the opening event on 10 April 2026 at 5pm.
| Artist Name | Title of Work |
| Alisha Z Pottery | Karst in Clay |
| Amanda Morton | Aylaâs Korowai |
| Briar Monro | Beyond the Tree Line |
| Carmel Pollock | Grounded |
| Charlotte Campbell (Three.23) | Abundance |
| Chris Dunn | Pohutukawas |
| Claire Preen | Along the Track WINNER Potters Clay Merit Award |
| Dean Vincent Lewin | Whareatua |
| Duncan Moore | Monster |
| Duncan Shearer | Jar |
| Eursula Fleig | Whetƫ Rehua & Pohutukawa |
| Greg Barron | Medieval Jug with Crackle Pattern |
| Hamish Oakley-Browne & Christine Cook | Reluctant Hero |
| Heath Bell | Nature/nurture |
| Jacquie Goldsmith | Freedom from the Madness |
| Janna van Hasselt | Tortile WINNER Kiwi Underglaze 'Use of Colour' Award |
| Jay Allen | What We're Standing On |
| Jeffie Mulder | Quiet Pot |
| Woven Earth Arts | Reef lV: Conversations with the Sea |
| Jo Brooks | Willemite Crystal Formation |
| John Ecuyer | Dog Bone |
| Jordan MacDonald | Neptune |
| Judith B. Ceramics | Vase: doodling |
| Karen Irwin | Burden |
| Keil Caskey | Uru WINNER Quarry Kiln Award |
| Lara Blake | 'Oddball' Red WINNER Driving Creek Residency Award |
| LeeAnn Edwards | NZ Giant Weta |
| Linda Jane Wigley | Ginkgo Leaf Vase |
| Louana McCormack | Kowhai |
| Lynda May Harris | Mine Mine Mine |
| Maak Bow | How Do You Feel? |
| Madison North Cowper | Salgo |
| Mary (Mollie) Schollum | Lolly Scramble |
| Mel Badenhorst | Lilith Comes to Me in a Dream |
| Mel Mepham | Into the soul |
| Michelle Bow | Pull your socks UP!!! |
| Paul Herbert | Never Erased |
| Racheal Westerrn | Drawn from the Clay |
| Robyn Meisel | Kawakawa Wisewoman |
| Romelia Lopez Diaz | Long Before Me |
| R O S A âą G | S p e a k (less)Â |
| ROSY & RICH | Slow Pulse of Life & Death WINNER Bot Pots Runner Up Award |
| Sam Dickenson | Kina |
| Sarah Urwin | Mamaâs Done |
| WllllS | The Hours Beneath |
| Studio Yun | Wibbly-Wobbly Goblets |
| Strahan Clarke | Embraced Impressions WINNER Potters Clay Nelson Merit Award |
| Victoria Jane Ellen Smith | Food and Fur |
| Z | STACK XXVIIII WINNER Decopot Premier Award |
Congratulations to all our finalists, and a huge thanks to everyone who entered! The exhibition celebrates some of the most exciting contemporary ceramic art from around Aotearoa.
People's Choice Award - Vote for your favourite ceramic work of the QCA 2026! Sponsored by Creative Northland
Poster - 2024 QCA Premier Award winner Rom Marinkovich (instagram) @fruitfire_ceramics
