Northern Clay Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 McKnight Fellowships for Ceramic Artists. These artists demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence. The selection panel for our 2026 McKnight Fellowships for Ceramic Artists included Jing Huang (Guilin, China), Colleen Riley (Eureka Township, MN) and Simphiwe Mbunyuza (Eastern Cape, South Africa). Please join us in congratulating the 2026 McKnight Ceramic Artist Fellows, Nick DeVries and Zoë Powell.
Two $25,000 grants are awarded annually. Fellowship support may be pursued for, but not limited to: experimenting with new techniques and materials; purchasing materials and equipment; collaborating with other artists; or pursuing education, exhibition, or travel opportunities. The 2026 Fellowship recipients will deliver a workshop and at the culmination of the grant period, will be featured in a catalogue and group exhibition at Northern Clay Center that will also travel to 3 – 5 sites around the state of Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
About the Awardees:
Nick DeVries
McKnight Fellow 2026
Zoë Powell
McKnight Fellow 2026
About the McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program
Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists and culture bearers thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts and culture program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists and culture bearers has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 15 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently, the foundation contributes about $2.8 million per year to its statewide fellowships. For more information, visit mcknight.org/artistfellowships.
About the McKnight Foundation
The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.
Please watch our website for future application deadlines. If you would like to host a presentation on our grant programs at your school or institution, or if you have individual questions about the programs, please contact nccinfo@northernclaycenter.org
Lastly, we would like to offer a special thank you to all of the 2026 applicants. Your interest in NCC’s grant programs and your applications help to keep our arts economy strong.
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