2027 Early Career Fellowship for BIPOC Ceramic Artists
The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail is pleased to announce that applications are open for the 2027 Early Career Fellowship for BIPOC Ceramic Artists. The Fellowship has been established to support artists of color who are embarking on a career in functional ceramics.
We are a dedicated group of professional potters in Western Massachusetts with an established and successful studio tour since 2005. The Trail has continually grown in attendance and sales and has a forward momentum that we feel excited to share with the recipients of the Fellowship. The fellowship applies to the 2027 Trail happening April 23th-25th 2027.
We invite you to apply and experience the thriving pottery community and creative economy in Western MA. Get your work in front of thousands of potential customers, network with other potters, and grow your mailing list.
Fellowship includes:
- Waived booth fee
- Up $300 travel stipend
- Lodging provided if needed
- Booth supplies/tables/display (optional)
- Support with show logistics and planning (optional)
Criteria for Selection:
- The fellowship is open to BIPOC artists making functional ceramics
- Applicants must be in the first 5 years of their professional career
- Applicants can be based anywhere, but will need to arrange their own travel
Application Process
The deadline to apply is November 1st, 2026. There is no fee to apply.
If you have any questions or issues with the online application please email steve.theberge@gmail.com.
Previous year’s fellowship recipients
Shachi Shah
2026
As a first-generation ceramic artist of Indian descent, my work reflects the quiet intersections between nature and form, drawing from coastal ecosystems, Indian craft traditions, and the rhythm of hand building. I’m deeply drawn to functional pottery as a way to bring care and intention into everyday life, and I hope to grow within a community that values both craft and cultural exchange.
Glen Deiter
2026
I am a Japanese/American ceramic artist. I tend to make a lot of character driven functional dinnerware. I am motivated to learn new and traditional techniques and then find ways to implement them into my work.
Emmanuel Okechukwu
2025
“When I first came to the U.S., I was still exploring ideas and unsure how my work would be received. I didn’t know how visible it would be, whether it was sellable, or if people would even be interested in acquiring it. Getting into the BIPOC Fellowship gave me that chance to find out. During the Pottery Trail, I was surprised by the huge demand for my style of work and the genuine appreciation people had for it. That experience encouraged me and gave me the motivation to keep creating. I’m truly grateful to the organization for offering me that opportunity.”
Based in Rochester, New York, I am currently pursuing my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Ceramics at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
My art deeply reflects on my identity and heritage, exploring different facets of my culture. I try to critiques elements I find contentious while celebrating others I deem exceptionally beautiful. This contrast is evident in my vessels.
Lately, I have been incorporating traditional textile motifs in my platters. My aim is to showcase the diverse textile designs across various African cultures, merging two distinct art forms and highlighting the interconnectedness of artistic expression.
Mucuy Bolles
2025
My exploration and study of Mayan anthropology and hieroglyphs continues through the development of my work in ceramics. With the help of my father, a Mayan linguist and ethnohistorian, the decipherment of glyphs and unraveling of the meaning behind Mayan myths and symbolisms has become a life passion like never before. I strive to create work in which ancient knowledge can be reborn through a new vision in the present. Whether the piece ends up with an overt indigenous identity or a simpler essence of motifs, I hope to infuse my work with the mysterious playfulness of my Mayan ancestors.
Mucuy devotes her time to working at her home studio in Marlboro VT, and exploring her Mayan heritage through ceramics. She is a juried member of the NH League of Craftsmen, The Rock River Artists, Paradise City Arts, Putney Craft Tour, Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts and Brattleboro West Arts. Her work can be seen at various studio tours and shows and galleries. Follow and check for updates at Instagram/mucuykak
Joshua Wong
2024
Growing up in the silicon valley of California, I was always surrounded by culture, diversity, and the arts.
A strong admiration for food & tableware led me to learning to make pots just before I was set to go to university to study cognitive science. Whilst in San Diego for university, I found myself falling in love with clay. I credit my first mentor Meredith Habermann for showing me the potential both in me and in the clay Every spare moment beyond the classroom or work was spent in the studio. I quickly realized I needed more training and sought an apprenticeship. Longing to work in the Leach tradition of wood-fired production potters, I found an apprenticeship with Naysan McIlhargey in Yellow Springs, Ohio. It is here I am now continuing to hone my skills in the craft, living a life of clay.
Beyond being in the studio I enjoy a myriad of interests. My favorite pastime — trying new restaurants reminds me why I got into making pots in the first place.
Jessica Ayala
2024
Brooklyn, NY
“I’m pretty earth conscious and want to work with clay in a sustainable way and connect my buyers with the rawness of what the earth has to offer. Most of my current work exposes the clay in its raw form, which I love. There’s so much beauty in the clay itself that sometimes the glaze can take away from the clays natural beauty.”
“I start out by sketching down my ideas, and really tapping in to what sparked this new idea and expanding on the topic”
Gleidymar Rivera
2023
Born in Puerto Rico, I currently reside in central Connecticut where I teach wheel throwing classes full time at The Firestone Art Studio + Cafe. Primarily a ceramic artist. As a ceramics artist, I focus primarily on making functional ware. I began working with clay during my undergrad at Wheelock College, where I studied Communications and Studio Arts. Since then, I have developed a passion for creating functional ceramics that blend modern design with botanical imagery. I source my inspiration from my Puerto Rican heritage, which I strive to celebrate, honor, and share with others through my art. I incorporate botanical and tropical imagery into my work as a tribute to the island’s natural beauty.
Amy Sanders
2023
“Participating in the Asparagus Valley Pottery Tour was a quintessential experience in the early stages of my career. It not only gave me the opportunity to present and sell my work at a significant scale, but also allowed me to connect with established studio artists from across the country. The mentorship I received throughout the tour was instrumental in building my confidence as a maker. This opportunity would not have been possible without the support of the BIPOC Fellowship. I’m deeply grateful to the hosts who continue to advocate for the growth and encouragement of emerging artists like myself.”
Amy Sanders was born in Yueyang, Hunan, China and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania. She holds a BFA with a concentration in Ceramics from West Virginia University in Morgantown,WV. She recently completed a year as a post-baccalaureate student at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. She recently completed two years as an Artist in Residence at the Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg, Florida. She currently focuses on utilitarian tableware using wheel and hand building methods. Amy is continuing her education as a Masters of Fine Arts candidate at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. When she’s not in the studio Amy loves to spend time with her doggo Bennie a.k.a Sir Bentonite!
