Our 2026 artist lineup has been announced!
The 14th annual festival will be June 20th and 21st 2026
Free Admission, Activities for Kids, Pottery Raffle, Competitions, Wood Kiln Opening, and a Raku firings!
Get ready for a real clay extravaganza at the 14th Annual Western New York Pottery Festival!
Join us on June 20th and 21th, 2026 from 10AM to 4PM at Studio Sales Pottery in East Avon, NY, for a weekend filled with pottery, fun, and creativity.
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Browse and Shop from 20+ Artists
Now in its 14th year, the WNY Pottery Festival is the perfect showcase for accomplished ceramic artists to display and sell their stunning creations. But that's not all – the festival is also a hands-on, interactive experience for visitors of all ages.
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Live Demonstrations & Competitions
Witness live pottery-making demonstrations, engage in friendly clay competitions, and try your hand at shaping your very own masterpiece. Experience this age old technique in a whole new way at at the 14th Annual WNY Pottery Festival!
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Fun for the Whole Family
Admission is free, and there's no shortage of activities to keep everyone entertained. Kids will love our hands-on experiences, while adults can participate in a raffle, observe a Noborigama wood kiln opening, and marvel at the mesmerizing Raku firing process!
Meet Derek and Nathaniel, Our 2026 Emerging Artists!
Introducing Derek Carlson, one of our festivals 2026 emerging artists!
“I have been using the potters wheel since high school, continuing to focus on it throughout community college at FLCC. The largest increase in skill, exposure, and experience though, was attending Nazareth Univeristy (2007-2009), focusing fulling on ceramics and sculpture under Mitch Messina. After college, I took a long break from ceramics for a bit of a life detour, and around 2022 came back to it with a renewed sense of passion for wheel throwing. I'm now the studio tech for Jason Ferguson's community studio in the Corn Hill area, and create all my work out of that space.”
Nathaniel Mich is our second emerging artist for 2026!
“I have been taking pottery classes at the Creative Workshop at the Memorial Art Gallery since 2019 after a 15-year hiatus since high school art classes. The majority of my work is wheel thrown stoneware and porcelain fired in electric kilns, though I've had occasional opportunities to participate in raku and wood firing. I love carving, piercing, and embossing my pieces.
I've taken classes with Shelly Green Stoler, Rose Van Tyne, and Jason Ferguson. I've been an artist-in-residence three times at the Lakeside Inn in Michigan (2023, 2025, and 2026). I participated in Artist Row at the Rochester Public Market (a juried art fair) in September 2025, and had a piece included in Mx. Media, a juried show at the Flower City Arts Center featuring Rochester-area LGBTQ+ artists (Nov. 2025). Some of my work is also for sale at The Store at the Memorial Art Gallery.”
- Jane S., Rochester, NY
"I attended the WNY Pottery Festival for the first time last year, and I was absolutely blown away by the incredible talent and friendly atmosphere! The hands-on activities were so much fun, and my kids couldn't stop talking about their pottery creations. We can't wait to return this year and make even more unforgettable memories!"
A Celebration of Clay in Rochester, the Finger Lakes and Beyond
A hands-on, interactive experience for visitors of all ages!
This is a family-friendly event that has everything from glaze-your-own-pottery to amazingly talented vendors selling their own pieces. It’s a fun space to celebrate ceramics and the process that goes into making all kind of works. The festival is an opportunity to bring Western New York together in enjoyment and appreciation of a medium we all interact with on a daily basis.
