Awarding of prizes within the framework of the Internationalen Keramiktage Oldenburg

And the winner is...

 

Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize

It is part of the Werkschule's programme to convey quality criteria. That is why we make quality standards comprehensible at the Oldenburg Ceramics Days and award special works: with the Ceramics Prize for the best three works in the themed show "brandnew - brandneu".

A jury of experts from across the region will select the winner. She receives the Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics, which is endowed with €1750.

NEUEn KERAMIK Prize

The fact that Internationalen Keramiktage Oldenburg is appreciated by the national professional scene is proven by the prize of NEUE KERAMIK, endowed with 2000 euros, donated since 2009 by the publisher of the trade magazine "NEUE KERAMIK/NEW CEREMICS" Bernd Pfannkuche. The prize honours outstanding ceramic achievement in the fields of vessels, sculpture and ceramic painting. It is awarded by a jury of experts among the Keramikmarkt participants.

Prize Scope:

  • 1,000 EUR prize money

  • 1,000 EUR as a travel grant to an international study location for ceramics in e.g. Denmark, Italy, China and the USA

  • A curated, six-week solo exhibition the following year at the Oldenburg State Museum for Art and Cultural History

Werkschule Turning Ceramics Prize

The Werkschule Oldenburg—organizer of the International Ceramics Days—is awarding a prize specifically for wheel-thrown ceramics for the first time in 2025, funded from its own resources and with the support of board member Martin McWilliam. The award recognizes outstanding achievements in a field deeply rooted in the Werkschule’s identity. We are currently seeking a sponsorship partner for this award—if you are interested, please feel free to contact us!
This year, the award is sponsored by the Müller-Meinhard family.

Prize Scope:

  • 1,000 EUR prize money

  • Confirmation of participation in the next International Ceramics Days

Audience Award

Your opinion counts: Which works from the "brand new" themed exhibition appeal to visitors the most? The audience award asks everyone to look closely at the works, judge them and evaluate them. It is always exciting to see which ceramic artwork visitors choose as their favorite! 500 euros in prize money will be awarded to the highest voted ceramic.

This year, the Audience Award is funded by the audience. You can drop off your donation directly at the exhibition in the Schlosssaal—thank you very much!

Overview of award winners

2025
NEUE KERAMIK Prize
Elena Arosio, Italy
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Sara Dario, Italy
Werkschul Prize for Ceramic Turning
Hanno Leischke, Dresden
Audience Choice Award
Atsushi Kitahara, Halle/Saale

2024
NEUE KERAMIK Prize
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Audience Choice Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg

2023
New Ceramics Award
Nausika Raes, Belgium
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Functional Design Category: Margot Thyssen, Belgium
Object/Sculpture Category: Youkjung Sin, Bad Ems
Innovation Category: Hyojung Yun, Kiel
Audience Choice Award
Margret and Wolf Ewert, Visbek

2022
NEUE KERAMIK Award
Sebastian Scheid, Germany
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award for Ceramics
Functional Design Category: Katrin Najorka, Krauschwitz
Object/Sculpture Category: Christine Duncombe-Thüring, Wiesbaden
Innovation Category: Guilherme Manuel Férias, Portugal
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg

2021
New Ceramics Award
Ricus Sebes, Germany
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award for Ceramics
Unfortunately had to be canceled due to the pandemic.
Audience Award
Unfortunately had to be canceled due to the pandemic.

2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, no awards were presented this year.

2019
NEUE KERAMIK Prize
Marieke Ringel, United Kingdom
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Function Category: Min Soo Lee, Diessen
Object/Sculpture Category: Atshushi Kitahara, Halle
Innovation Category: Peter Beard, United Kingdom
Audience Choice Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg

2018
New Ceramics Award
Si-Sook Kang, Kellinghusen
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Function Category: André von Martens, Gosda
Surface Category: Caroline Peeters, Netherlands Innovation Category: Keith Varney,United Kingdom
Audience Award
Dagmar Langer, Karlsruhe
and Angelika Janßen, Bruges/Lower Rhine

2017
NEUE KERAMIK Award
Beatrijs van Rheeden, Netherlands
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award for Ceramics
Function Category: Jeremy Nichols, United Kingdom
Surface Category: Eddie Curtis, United Kingdom Innovation Category: Job Heykamp, Netherlands Audience Award
Ines and Christoph Hasenberg, Siegburg

2016
NEUE KERAMIK Prize
Rachel Wood, United Kingdom
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Function Category: Eddie Curtis, United Kingdom
Surface Category: Nicole Thoss, Höhr-Grenzhausen Innovation Category: Sangwoo Kim, currently in France
Audience Award
Sangwoo Kim, currently in France
3rd Becher Prize on behalf of OTM
Karin Bablok, Hamburg