A standout group of ceramics MFA students from PennWest Edinboro is gaining national attention, representing the university at the highest levels of the ceramics community and earning an impressive list of accolades throughout the academic year.
Most recently, nine ceramics students — including five MFA candidates — attended the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts conference in Detroit, one of the largest gatherings in the field with approximately 5,000 attendees annually. The group hosted a promotional table in the Exhibitors Hall and connected with alumni during a well-attended reception, further elevating the visibility of PennWest’s ceramics program on a national stage.
Among the conference highlights, MFA students Hadley Wiktor of Danville, Pennsylvania, and Sam Wilson of Mount Carmel, Illinois, were selected for inclusion in the prestigious NCECA Juried National Student Exhibition, widely regarded as the premier showcase for emerging ceramic artists in the United States. In an additional honor, Wiktor was elected by NCECA’s membership as student director at large.
The students’ success extends beyond NCECA. Joey Downey of Girard, Pennsylvania, Wiktor and Joey Gerace of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, were selected for national juried intercollegiate ceramics exhibitions in Wheeling, West Virginia. Downey earned Best of Show at the Oglebay Institute’s National Ceramics Competition, a first-place honor that includes a cash award and a solo exhibition in the coming year. His work has also been selected for the spring juried exhibition at the Erie Art Museum.
In another notable achievement, MFA student Jacob Estevez or Brighton, Massachusetts, received an endorsement from Speedball Art Products, a nationally recognized supplier of printmaking inks and ceramic underglazes. His work will be featured in the company’s upcoming marketing campaigns and showcased at future NCECA conferences.
“This is an exceptional group of artists who are fully engaged in the field right now — not just in the studio, but nationally,” said PennWest ceramics professor Charles Johnson. “From exhibiting at NCECA to earning top awards and leadership roles, they’re putting PennWest Edinboro on the map in a big way. It’s exciting to see their hard work translate into this level of recognition.”
Collectively, these five MFA students have participated in more than 17 regional and national exhibitions this year. With national recognition continuing to grow, these students exemplify the creativity, dedication and professional engagement that define the next generation of ceramic artists.
Pictured: Joey Gerace, Joey Downey, Hadley Wiktor and Sam Wilson.