Potters Market at the Mint

The Delhom Service League, the ceramics affiliate of The Mint Museum, originated the Potters Market Invitational in 2005 as a showcase of top potters in the state, with a goal of both helping the potters find new buyers for their work and introducing the Charlotte market to some of the many talented potters working across the state. Over the years, the show has continued to grow and is now regarded as one of the top ceramics events in the state, if not the Southeast.

To help ensure a process that felt fair and transparent to the artists, in 2020 we moved to a Juried Process and rebranded the event as Potters Market at the Mint, but it remains our intent to present a show that highlights the very best ceramics artists working in the state of North Carolina today, with a mix of artists from across the state representing a diversity of styles and techniques. As part of our ongoing effort to attract and honor the top potters, in 2021 we introduced new cash prizes.

The term “potters market” connotes to some that the show is limited to pottery, defined as functional work, or work inspired by or a metaphorical interpretation of functional work. While historically the majority of work presented at Potters Market at the Mint would fit this definition of pottery, we do not restrict the work in this way, and we welcome ceramic art that is considered figurative or sculptural if it can be effectively presented in the format of this show.