The International Young Imprints in Ceramics competition aims to bring together young ceramic artists who will shape the future of ceramics. Applications are welcome from participants aged 45 or under, from all geographical, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The theme is open. All works produced using ceramic techniques and technology are eligible.

• The exhibition is open to national and international participants who create ceramic works and are aged 45 or under. First-degree relatives of selection committee members may not apply.
• Each participant may enter one ceramic artwork of their own.
• Submitted works must not have appeared in another competition or exhibition. If a breach is identified, the entry or award will be cancelled.
• Any type of clay, forming technique or artistic approach may be used. The artwork must be made predominantly from ceramic materials.
• Artworks must be at least 25 cm and no more than 70 cm high. Their horizontal footprint must not exceed 50 × 50 cm. Relief works must not exceed 15 cm in depth. For multi-part installations, the total footprint is limited to 50 × 50 cm.
• Works intended for hanging must include the necessary hanging fixtures. Works that require assembly or installation must be installed personally by the artist.

Works submitted for the exhibition will be assessed by the selection committee. Applicants must email a PDF containing photographs of the artwork from at least 3 and no more than 5 different angles, artist information and a short description of the artwork to [email protected] by 00:00 on Tuesday, 24 November 2026.

The artwork should be photographed against a clean, plain background. The application form must include the artist’s first name, surname, year of birth and contact details, as well as the artwork’s dimensions, technique, materials, year of creation and title.

The application must contain at least three photographs taken from different angles that clearly show the artwork. Photographs must not be digitally altered or edited in any way, including with Photoshop or AI tools. If a breach of this requirement is detected, the application will be invalidated and the participant disqualified.

Selection takes place in two stages. The first assessment will be conducted digitally, using photographs of the artworks, on 25–26 November 2026. The second assessment will take place on 3 December 2026, when the jury meets in İzmir to select the award-winning works. Selected works will be exhibited at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center.

During assessment, selection committee members will have access only to the artwork images and will not have access to any personal information about the applicants.

Artists whose works pass the photographic assessment on 25–26 November 2026 and qualify for the exhibition will be announced through the Seramiğin Genç İzleri social media account on 27 November 2026. They will be sent an agreement and an explicit consent declaration.

An “Artist’s Table” is planned for the exhibition space. This activity is intended to help artists introduce themselves, engage with visitors and contribute to social media content. It will run alongside the exhibition. Participants are encouraged to be present in the exhibition space according to a schedule to be announced, to introduce themselves and their artistic practice.

Artists whose works have been selected for exhibition must deliver their artworks and signed terms and conditions / explicit consent declaration to the organising committee between 27 November and 2 December 2026, either in person or by courier, at: Yurdoğlu Mahallesi 3946/6 Sokak No:2/2, Karabağlar–İzmir.

Selected works must reach the person responsible for organising the exhibition between 27 November and 2 December 2026, either by hand delivery or courier. The Seramiğin Genç İzleri organising committee (sponsors) and the other institutions involved (İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center) cannot be held responsible for damage occurring during shipment. Artworks will remain on display until the end of the exhibition.

Artists acknowledge that no liability is accepted for loss, theft, damage or similar incidents involving works participating in the exhibition. Delivery of the works is the responsibility of the applicants.

All costs and responsibilities associated with courier shipments belong to the artist. Artists must collect their works at the end of the exhibition. Responsibility for works not collected after the exhibition remains with their owners, not with the organising committee.

By applying to participate in the exhibition, artists agree in advance to permit the International Seramiğin Genç İzleri organising committee and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality to use, in any manner, the identity information, artwork information and artwork photographs supplied with their applications.

Artists also agree in advance to the recording of images of their selected and exhibited works, and to any use of those images by the International Seramiğin Genç İzleri social media channels and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. These permissions include the use of information and images relating to the artists and their works in the exhibition catalogue and in media coverage.

Award recipients accept that the value of their prizes will serve as the copyright fee for the relevant artworks, that ownership of the award-winning works will belong to the institution or individual providing the award, and that they will not claim any additional payment or copyright fee for these works from the International Seramiğin Genç İzleri organising committee (sponsors) or the other institutions involved (İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center).

A total of six awards will be presented as part of the 3rd International Young Imprints in Ceramics Competition. The prizes are provided by Refsan A.Ş.

• First Prize: BTH Andromeda DD03 Pottery Wheel.
• Second Prize: BTH Sirius BP02 Pottery Wheel.
• Third Prize: Nidec Shimpo RK 5T Pottery Wheel without Foot Pedal.
• Honourable Mention (3 awards): Refsan Hobbypott Pottery Wheel.

Exhibition: 4–28 December 2026
Opening and award ceremony: 4 December 2026 at 15:00
Venue: Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center, İzmir; Upper Floor East and West Galleries.

Phone: +90 534 248 67 44
Email: [email protected]
Delivery address: Yurdoğlu Mahallesi 3946/6 Sokak No:2/2, Karabağlar–İzmir.

Founders

Ebru İlbeyci Alkan
Muhammet Emir Taşdemir

Honorary President

Mehmet Tüzüm Kızılcan

Organising Committee

Ayşe Elif Bektaş, Berfin Göktaş, Ebru Baykal, Eda İlbeyci, Gökay Özalp, Hilal Nayman, Sinan Kerim Uçkaç.