Awarding of prizes within the framework of the Internationalen Keramiktage Oldenburg
And the winner is...
Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize
The winner of the Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics 2025 is Sara Dario from Stazzema, Tuscany, Italy. This year's focus was on surface design. Juror Jinwhi Lee presents the certificate on her behalf.
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 winner of the NEUE KERAMIK 2025 prize is Elena Arosio from South Tyrol, Italy. Pictured here with Monika Gass (left), jury member, author and curator at NEUE KERAMIK GmbH.
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 winner of the new Werkschul-Drehkeramik-Preis 2025 is Hanno Leischke from Dresden.
The Werkschule Oldenburg - organizer of the International Ceramics Days - is awarding a prize specifically for turned ceramics for the first time with its own funds and with the support of board member Martin McWilliam, 2025. The prize recognizes outstanding achievements in a field that is deeply linked to the identity of the Werkschule. We are looking for a sponsoring partner for this prize in the future - please contact us if you are interested!
Prize Scope:
1,000 EUR prize money
Confirmation of participation in the next International Ceramics Days
Audience Award
The winner of the Audience Award 2025 is Atsushi Kitahara from Japan, who lives in Halle/Saale. On the right in the picture: Eva Müller-Meinhard, sponsor of this year's 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.
Overview of award winners
2024
New Ceramics Award
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2023
New Ceramics Award
Nausika Raes, Belgium
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Functional 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 Category: Katrin Najorka, Krauschwitz
Object/Sculpture Category: Christine Duncombe-Thüring, Wiesbaden
Innovation Category: Guilherme Manuel Férias, Portugal
Audience Choice Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2021
New Ceramics Award
Ricus Sebes, Germany
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize 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 Award
Marieke Ringel, United Kingdom
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award for Ceramics
Function Category: Min Soo Lee, Diessen
Object/Sculpture Category: Atshushi Kitahara, Halle
Innovation Category: Peter Beard, United Kingdom
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2018
NEUE KERAMIK Award
Si-Sook Kang, Kellinghusen
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award 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 Award
Rachel Wood,United Kingdom
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Award 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
2015
NEUE KERAMIK Prize
Carolin Wachter, Werder
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Functional Design Category: H. Leischke and B. Hasse, Dresden
Surface Design Category: Lauriane Firoben, France
Innovation Category: Rebecca Maeder, Switzerland Audience Choice Award
Carla de Vrijer, Netherlands
2nd Becher Prize on behalf of OTM
Barbara Hertwig, Berlin