Earth & Fire 2026

Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center will be hosting Earth & Fire, a national, juried, exhibition of ceramic art in February and March 2026. The jurors are Holly Goring and Margaret Kinkeade of Ceramics Monthly magazine. This is the 4th annual exhibition and will be a focal point of Ceramics Take Over Wheeling. 

Ceramics Take Over Wheeling is 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 newly organized 4-day ceramics festival.

The awards will be:

1st prize: $4000.00, solo exhibition, jury opportunity, and paid workshop / demo / talk in 2027.

2nd prize: $1500.00

3rd prize: $1000.00

2 merit awards: $250.00 each

Entry fee: $35.00 for up to 2 pieces

The awards will be:

1st prize: $4000.00, solo exhibition, jury opportunity, and paid workshop / demo / talk in 2027.

2nd prize: $1500.00

3rd prize: $1000.00

2 merit awards: $250.00 each

Entry fee: $35.00 for up to 2 pieces

Our Juror(s):

Holly Goring, (Managing Editor: Ceramics Monthly & Pottery Making Illustrated) began her career in ceramics from the outside looking in. With her face pressed against the glass, staring in at the potters, she worked for the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum developing the U of Minnesota’s Public Art minor program and earning an art history degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Tiring of a sore neck and the heavy weight of jealousy, she stopped resisting the messy art kids and whole-heartedly joined them. A BFA in ceramics followed shortly after. Years later while studying ceramics in The Ohio State University’s grad program, she took an internship at Ceramics Monthly and has been on staff ever since.

Margaret Kinkeade, (Assistant Editor: Ceramics Monthly & Pottery Making Illustrated) grew up in northeast Oklahoma, and her introduction to art came in quiet moments of curiosity: looking over her grandmother's sewing table, fumbling around in her needlepoint projects, and cleaning hobby pottery with her aunt each summer vacation. Time spent absorbing layers of both material and process cemented a connection to methodical work made special by each maker’s unique touch and intent. After graduating with a BFA focusing on printmaking from the University of Oklahoma, Kinkeade earned an MFA in ceramics from Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Upon graduation, she relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, and in 2023 joined the Ceramic Arts Network team. Engaging in the field both in her studio and on the editorial team at CAN provides opportunities for growth and exploration, which are invaluable as a lifelong learner. 

Ceramics Take Over Wheeling

We invite you to visit Wheeling, WV on February 26 - March 1, 2026 for 4-days and 3-nights of amazing ceramic events! Attend workshops, sit in on a talk or two, explore the city with 9 exhibition openings and end your trip with our signature Pottery Throwdown. Visit our unique local restaurants and taverns, fall in love with Oglebay Park and Resort and all the historic charm Wheeling has to offer. There will be plenty to see and do. Lodging packages available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Check out our website for more information. ceramicstakeoverwheeling.com

Important dates:

• Exhibition dates: February 28 - April 11, 2026
• Deadline for entries: December 14, 2025 (11:59 p.m. Mountain Time)
• Juror’s Notification emailed the week of: December 22, 2025
• Opening Reception: February 28, 2026 (6:30-8:30pm)
• Hand delivered drop off accepted works dates: January 19 - February 7, 2026
• Shipped works accepted January 1 – February 7, 2026 (Shipping is at the cost of the artist; return shipping label must be included, Ship to: Stifel Fine Arts Center, Earth & Fire 2026, 1330 National Road, Wheeling WV 26003)
• Pick up dates after the close of the exhibit: April 14 - 18 or by arrangement (unsold work that was originally shipped, will be shipped back to the artist after this period)
   

All entries must be completed online by 11:59 MDT on December 14, 2025 through CaFÈ. You will need to set up a free account at callforentry.org  (Questions? Contact Rick Morgan, Director at rmorgan@oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.

• All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 

• A nonrefundable $35 entry fee is required at the time of application.

• Do Not Ship Work With Envelopes Full of Stamps. UPS / Fedex return labels, USPS Click-N-Ship only please.

• No large Installations will be accepted. (If in doubt, get in touch with Kevin Clancy, Curator at kclancy@oionline.com)

Procedures & Requirements:

• All entries must be completed online by 11:59 MDT on December 14, 2025 through CaFÈ. You will need to set up a free account at callforentry.org (Questions? Contact Rick Morgan, Director at rmorgan@oionline.com or 304-242-7700.)
• All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 
• A nonrefundable $35 entry fee is required at the time of application.

• Artists may submit up to 2 works. You must submit high-resolution images (300 dpi) for the jury process. The Stifel Fine Arts Center will use submitted images of accepted works for concurrent online exhibit, documentation, the exhibit catalog, and promotional materials for this exhibit. 

• Please no shipping peanuts! Shipping materials will be kept for returning work. Only boxes, crates and bins with proper labels including the artist’s contact information and the name of the piece will be kept for repackaging of hand delivered works. Ship accepted works to: Stifel Fine Arts Center, Earth & Fire Exhibit, 1330 National Road, Wheeling WV 26003) Shipped works will be returned to the artist at the artist‘s expense. A return shipping label must be included when originally shipped for the exhibit. We strongly encourage you to insure shipping your work both ways. Stifel Fine Arts Center is only responsible for damage to work while it is here on our property not while in transit.

• Works left at Stifel Fine Arts Center more than 30 days past the Pick-up Dates (April 14-18) become the property of Stifel Fine Arts Center and will not be stored.

• Open to visual artists 18 years and older residing in the US.

• Artists may submit up to 2 works.

 Works must have been completed within the last two calendar years and not been previously exhibited at the Stifel Fine Arts Center. 

• All works must be for sale. Stifel Fine Arts Center will retain a 30% commission on the sale price.

• Questions? contact Kevin Clancy at kclancy@oionline.com or 304-242-7700

Open to visual artists 18 years and older residing and working in the US.

A nonrefundable $35 entry fee is required at the time of application.

All works must be made of clay and must be the original work of the artist. 

All works must be for sale. Stifel Fine Arts Center will retain a 30% commission on the sales price. WV state sales tax will be applied.