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. Here together with Monika Gass, 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. 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
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Detlef-Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Dorothee Wenz, Schwabenheim
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2023
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Nausika Raes, Belgium
Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: Margot Thyssen, Belgium
Category Object/Sculpture: Youkjung Sin, Bad Ems
Category Innovation: Hyojung Yun, Kiel
Audience Award
Margret and Wolf Ewert, Visbek
2022
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Sebastian Scheid, Germany
Detlef-Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: Katrin Najorka, Krauschwitz
Category Object/Sculpture: Christine Duncombe-Thüring, Wiesbaden
Category Innovation: Guilherme Manuel Férias, Portugal
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2021
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Ricus Sebes, Germany
Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
Audience Award
Unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
2020
This year, due to corona, no prizes could be awarded.
2019
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Marieke Ringel, Great Britain
Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: Min Soo Lee, Diessen
Category Object/Plastic: Atshushi Kitahara, Halle
Category Innovation: Peter Beard, Great Britain
Audience Award
Johanna Beil, Hamburg
2018
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Si-Sook Kang, Kellinghusen
Detlef Schmidt Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: André von Martens, Gosda
Category Surface: Caroline Peeters, Netherlands Category Innovation: Keith Varney, Great Britain
Audience Award
Dagmar Langer, Karlsruhe
and Angelika Janßen, Bruges/Lower Rhine
2017
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Beatrijs van Rheeden, Netherlands
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: Jeremy Nichols, Great Britain
Category Surface: Eddie Curtis, Great Britain Category Innovation: Job Heykamp, Netherlands Audience Award
Ines und Christoph Hasenberg, Siegburg
2016
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Rachel Wood, Great Britain
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: Eddie Curtis, Great Britain
Category Surface: Nicole Thoss, Höhr-Grenzhausen Category Innovation: Sangwoo Kim, currently France
AudienceAward
Sangwoo Kim, currently France
3rd Cup Prize on behalf of OTM
Karin Bablok, Hamburg
2015
NEUEn KERAMIK Prize
Carolin Wachter, Werder
Detlef Schmidt-Wilkens Prize for Ceramics
Category Function: H. Leischke and B. Hasse, Dresden
Category Surface: Lauriane Firoben, France
Category Innovation: Rebecca Maeder, Switzerland Audience Award
Carla de Vrijer, Netherlands
2nd Cup Award on behalf of OTM
Barbara Hertwig, Berlin