In collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art of the Americas in Kendall, the Ceramic League of Miami presented its annual exhibition, featuring a distinguished presentation by master ceramicist Tom Coleman. This esteemed artist delivered a keynote lecture on his work and the inspiring creative experiences that have shaped his career. Both institutions have joined forces to achieve the shared goal of promoting the appreciation of ceramic arts and educating their members and the general public on all aspects of this unique art form. This year, their classic annual members' exhibition was held in the galleries of MoCAA, in partnership with the Fine Arts Ceramic Center.
The Ceramic League of Miami has been the premier organization for ceramicists working in Miami-Dade County for seven decades. Founded in 1950 by a group predominantly composed of women working from their homes, the league has steadily grown into an institution capable of organizing national exhibitions, partnering with similar organizations across the country, hosting street fairs, and collaborating with public schools to create exchange and teaching programs. The league has its own school, offering a wide range of specialized firing processes and logistical support not readily available elsewhere in the community. The Ceramic League of Miami has literally served generations of artists and enthusiasts in Miami. Students who began in its workshops during high school continue to practice and refine their skills well into retirement. The Members' Exhibition is the league's most cherished tradition, celebrating and honoring the community it serves.
The opening of the 73rd annual exhibition took place on Friday, February 24, 2024, drawing a significant number of members, friends, and family. The works were submitted for consideration by both experts and the general public. The evening's main attraction was a keynote lecture by ceramic artist and exhibition juror Tom Coleman, who trained as a ceramicist at Northwest College of Art Reed College. His pieces are as functional as they are expressive, and his training in the Japanese tradition has led him to focus on pure beauty, symmetry, and the balance of forms.
The Fine Arts Ceramic Center, affiliated with MoCA-Americas, was conceived by art collector Leonardo Rodríguez, the owner and founder of the former Kendall Art Cultural Center—now the Kendall Museum of Contemporary Arts of the Americas. The Fine Arts Ceramic Center emerged in 2020 with the purpose of creating an artistic project centered entirely on the art of ceramics. A workshop, equipped with all the necessary resources and tools to produce high-quality artwork on-site, was established in a space adjacent to the Kendall Art Center. Fifty artists were invited to create works on ceramic plates, culminating in the inaugural ceramic plate art exhibition titled Fine Arts of the Plate, which opened on November 27th of that same year.
Since then, the workshop has continued to expand its collection, adding new pieces and initiating the production of murals, sculptures, and installations. It has organized workshops, inviting renowned artists, and is dedicated to bringing ceramics education and practice to the community. The Fine Arts Ceramic Center was a featured participant at the recently concluded NCECA's 57th Annual Conference, Current, held in Cincinnati, Ohio, from March 15-18, 2023.
Currently, the center is engaged in the simultaneous creation of a significant number of new pieces by artists from both Cuba and the broader Americas. With the same enthusiasm as on its first day, the FACC continues to promote within its community the history, beauty, and boundless possibilities of ceramics as a medium for the most surprising and avant-garde works of art.
The Ceramic League of Miami and the Fine Arts Ceramic Center, affiliated with MoCA-Americas, believe that access to artistic expression through ceramics should be available to everyone, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability. Their goal is to empower marginalized groups to participate in their programs and become active members who contribute to bringing ceramic art to their communities. Both institutions are committed to creating an environment free from any form of discrimination. The CLM and FACC seek to benefit from the diverse ideas, worldviews, and personal experiences represented, particularly within the South Florida community.