NCECA 2018 is here and thousands of potters are about to descend on Pittsburg, PA, which definitely is not prepared for the takeover that is about to happen. We know that deciding what shows to see and what openings to attend is a difficult part of NCECA, so we did a bunch of research and compiled this FREE guide to the 10 Best Shows to See at NCECA 2018.

Our first 3 NCECA 2018 picks are below… but click here to download the full mobile-friendly ebook!

1. Artstream Nomadic Gallery

NCECA Gallery Expo
Tuesday, March 13th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm
1000 FT. DUQUESNE BLVD., PITTSBURGH, PA 15222

The Artstream Nomadic Gallery is an annual NCECA favorite and must-see show! The gallery pairs top-of-the-field potters with a fun art-viewing experience inside a vintage Airstream Trailer retrofitted into a mobile contemporary pottery gallery. It’s the chrome trailer parked inside the conference hall… you literally can’t miss it.

For NCECA 2018 you can attend the pre-conference public opening reception on Tuesday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 pm in the gallery expo Hall where the Artstream will be open for a first look and opportunity to purchase before the conference begins on Wednesday. Additionally, on Wednesday March 14 at 3:40, see Ayumi Horie is speak on behalf of the Democratic Cup followed by an artist talk by Julia Galloway at 4:00 pm.

Potters on view include Adam Field, Justin Donofrio, Allegheny Meadows, Ayumi Horie, Josh DeWeese, Mike Helke, Shoko Teruyama, and more!

BONUS: Post-conference, Montgomery County Community College outside Philadelphia is hosting the Artstream for a 2-day workshop (March March 19-20) with Mike Helke, Lisa Orr, and Simon Levin. The entire event can be streamed online for FREE. So mark your calendars and visit their website for more info.

Follow The Artstream on its cross-country tour on Instagram here!

2. Collaborative Companions

Union Project
801 N NEGLEY AVENUE PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
RECEPTION: Thursday, March 15th, 6pm-8pm

Collaborative Companions has taken the tight-knit nature of ceramic community and paired it with the strong iconic brands of contemporary potters for this compelling exhibition of tableware. The show asked established potters to to collaborate – one focusing on the form and the other on the surface – together completing a single finished piece. Collaborative shows always have the potential to be giant disasters… but this exhibition is remarkably successful and, for the avid pottery enthusiast, it’s fun to look at the work and try to guess who’s who…

Potters on view include: Didem Mert, Kevin Snipes, Grace Sheese, Rachel Donner, Deb Schwartzkopf, and Justin Rothshank. Learn more at www.companiongallery.com

Join the Collaborative Companions Facebook Event here!

3. HOT MUD *pop-up show

At “The Church”
5341 KINCAID ST., PITTSBURGH, PA 15222
RECEPTION: Wednesday, March 14th, 5pm-10pm

Want a funky departure from the sea of NCECA 2018 brown pots? You don’t want to miss this event. Hot Mud is a rogue NCECA show featuring Ashley Bevington, Numpusch, and Matt George that will make you laugh and then make you grimace and then you’ll leave wondering if that was art or a joke? These are the anti-craft artists in love with clay phenomenon – a refreshing departure from keynotes and woodfiring.

BONUS: They have a taco bar… and who doesn’t like a good taco bar?

Potters on view include: Ashley Bevington, Numpusch, and Matt George. Learn more on their Instagrams @numpucsh, @foggy_foot, and @ashleybevington