Maitland Regional Art Gallery’s bold new ceramics exhibition takes shape

Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG) invites audiences to experience Mud to Masterpiece: Australian Contemporary Ceramics, a bold new exhibition that reimagines clay as a powerful medium for creativity and expression.

Opening Saturday 25 October 2025 and running until Sunday 1 February 2026, Mud to Masterpiece brings together leading Australian artists who are redefining contemporary ceramics. The exhibition features works that move beyond the traditional, from large-scale sculptural forms to intricate, imaginative pieces that challenge expectations of the medium.

MRAG Deputy Director Courtney Novak said the exhibition highlights the depth of creativity and innovation within Australia’s ceramics community.

“This exhibition is a celebration of clay in all its forms, from the raw and expressive to the highly refined. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the material, transforming mud into something extraordinary that showcases the evolution of contemporary ceramics. 

“The works invite audiences to see this ancient medium in new ways and engage with the ideas, stories and techniques driving innovation in contemporary Australian art.”

A major feature of the exhibition is WAVE; a collaboration that unites the mythic imagery and ceramics of South Australian potter Gerry Wedd, the soundscapes of composer and performer Gabriella Smart and the visual storytelling of filmmaker Mark Patterson. 

Mud to Masterpiece also features works by Tracie Bertram, Penny Evans, Bonnie Hislop, Juz Kitson, Alfred Lowe, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, Mark Patterson, Monica Rani Rudhar, Ebony Russell, Gabriella Smart, Vipoo Srivilasa, Gerry Wedd and Kara Wood.

Ms Novak said the exhibition reflects MRAG’s role as a vibrant cultural hub for the community.

“Exhibitions like Mud to Masterpiece are important because they push the boundaries of what art can be, demonstrating MRAG’s role as a hub for innovation and cultural conversation.”

Mud to Masterpiece opens Saturday 25 October 2025 and runs until Sunday 1 February 2026 at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. For more information, visit mrag.org.au