CALL FOR ENTRIES:
2026 Artaxis National Juried Exhibition
From October 23, 2026 through March 17, 2027, the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University will host a national juried ceramics exhibition featuring works by members of Artaxis.
The exhibition will consist of approximately 30 pieces, 50% of which will be sculptural and 50% vessel-based.
Washburn students will also curate a selection of ceramics from the Mulvane’s collection, which will be displayed alongside the juried exhibition. Associated programming will engage the community and promote Artaxis’s mission to educate the public about contemporary ceramics and celebrate diverse artistic practices.
Application fee: $35 donation to support Artaxis programming
Deadline: July 31st, 2026
** The application fee is a donation to Artaxis to support our nonprofit programming and educational resources that help inspire the next generation of clay makers around the world.
TIMELINE:
Online Application: April 6–July 31, 2026
Exhibition: October 23, 2026–March 17, 2027
Notification of Acceptance: August 28, 2026
Arrival of Shipped Work: October 12–14, 2026
Arrival of Hand-Delivered Work: October 12–14, 2026 (by appointment)
Reception and Jurors’ Talk: TBD
Workshop with Tyler Quintin: TBD
Return of Shipped Work: Shipped by March 31, 2027
Pickup of Hand-Delivered Work: March 18–25, 2027 (by appointment)
Exhibition: October 23, 2026–March 17, 2027
Notification of Acceptance: August 28, 2026
Arrival of Shipped Work: October 12–14, 2026
Arrival of Hand-Delivered Work: October 12–14, 2026 (by appointment)
Reception and Jurors’ Talk: TBD
Workshop with Tyler Quintin: TBD
Return of Shipped Work: Shipped by March 31, 2027
Pickup of Hand-Delivered Work: March 18–25, 2027 (by appointment)
ELIGIBILITY and EXCLUSIONS:
Applicants must be a member of Artaxis at the time of application, and must be living in the United States.
Submitted works must be original, must use clay as the primary material, and must have been completed within the last three years.
Submissions that include more than two works or more than two images per work may be excluded from adjudication. Internationally shipped works are not eligible for this exhibition.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Applicants must be current members of Artaxis
- Ceiling-hung works are not permitted. Wall-hung works must be provided with secure hanging systems.
- Wall-mounted works must not exceed 60 pounds.
- Floor and pedestal works must be self-supporting.
- Video or time-based media must be provided with all necessary electronic equipment.
- Accepted artwork must be of the same work in the entry (no substitutions).
- We reserve the right to exclude accepted works that arrive at the Museum in poor condition.
- Works must be available for the duration of the exhibition. Accepted works may not be withdrawn by the artist prior to the close of the exhibition.
- Artworks may be for sale, but Washburn University and the Mulvane Art Museum will not promote or handle sales. Efforts will be made to connect interested parties with artists to facilitate direct sales transactions.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION JURORS:
Dr. Sara Stepp
Dr. Sara Stepp is the Director of the Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University (Topeka, KS), where she has worked since 2022. She earned a doctorate in art history with honors from the University of Kansas in 2023, and has taught university-level courses in art history and museum studies for nearly a decade. A few of her honors include an Andrew W. Mellon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Curriculum Fellowship and the Chu-tsing Li Award for Academic Excellence from the University of Kansas. Her work is driven by a passion for artistic inquiry, object-based learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Tyler Quentin
Tyler Quintin is an Artaxis member and a current long-term Artist in Residence at Red Lodge Clay Center (Red Lodge, MT). Prior to this, he completed residencies at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN), the Morean Center for Clay (St. Petersburg, FL) and the Haystack Mountain School of Craft (Deer Isle, MN). Tyler received a BFA from Washburn University in 2016 on a full tuition merit scholarship. Tyler was a 2024 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist. His work has been exhibited in numerous national and international exhibitions and is featured in the permanent collections of the Mulvane Art Museum (Topeka, KS), the San Angelo Museum of Art (San Angelo, TX), and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Find Tyler’s Artaxis page at https://artaxis.org/artist/tyler-quintin/
Kyla Strid
Kyla Strid (she/her) is a potter, teaching artist, Artaxis member, and arts administrator. Kyla’s work has been shaped by residencies around the world and by consulting on an archaeological dig of a Minoan pottery workshop in Crete. Drawing from ancient Minoan forms and botanical patterns inspired by her own backyard, she creates functional pots that invite daily use while carrying a sense of timeless beauty that is rooted in the here and now. When not in her studio, you can find her supporting fellow artists of all ages while serving as a Program Officer at Mid-America Arts Alliance. Find Kyla’s Artaxis page at https://artaxis.org/artist/kyla-strid/
ENTRY PROCEDURES & APPLICATION PROCESS:
The jurors will make their selections based on digital images of individual works. Interested artists may apply online at Artaxis.org. All submissions must be digital—no slides will be accepted.
Application Checklist:
- Name, address, email, and phone number. You may also include your website and social media handles (optional).
- Up to two distinct works with up to two images per work.
- Images must be sized at 1800px on the longest side at 300 dpi.
- Each image filename must be labeled: Artist Last Name_First Name_Entry#
- A brief artist statement (1200 characters) and artist bio (1200 characters).
- Submit all applications via the form on this page.
Application fee and materials must be submitted by July 31, 2026 at 11:59 EST. The receipt of an entry will be understood to imply agreement on the part of the entrant with all conditions set forth in this prospectus.
AWARDS:
Glenda Taylor Award: $300
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
Honorable Mentions: $50
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
Honorable Mentions: $50
ABOUT ARTAXIS:
Artaxis inspires the next generation of artists by providing an archive of over 10,000 peer-reviewed images, as well as thousands of artist statements, bios, resumes and other resources for educators and students. Educators use Artaxis to introduce the many themes, techniques, and approaches in contemporary ceramics. Learn more about Artaxis at Artaxis.org.
ABOUT THE MULVANE ART MUSEUM:
The Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University offers free admission to a nationally accredited facility with six exhibition galleries, two sculpture gardens, an interactive artmaking space, and over 6,000 works of art. The Mulvane’s mission is to create pathways to learning, creativity, and connection through the visual arts. As a university museum, the Mulvane collects, preserves, and interprets works of art for the educational benefit and enjoyment of Washburn University, Topeka, and the region. The Mulvane’s collections, exhibitions, and programs support creative and scholarly work, cultivate community, promote cultural understanding, and advance the mission of Washburn University.
SHIPPING & ARTIST RESPONSIBILITY:
Shipping costs incurred to and from the museum are the artist’s sole responsibility. Works not picked up or works sent without a return shipping label will be considered a donation to Artaxis within 60 days of the exhibition’s close and may be used in teaching collections or for fundraising purposes.
Artists must send work in sturdy, reusable boxes and packing materials. Double boxes are strongly recommended. Artists must supply all necessary hardware with complete installation instructions if necessary. An inventory sheet with details of items and materials used should be included. A return shipping label must be included in the packaging.
Ship works to:
Mulvane Art Museum
1700 SW Jewell Ave
Topeka, KS 66621
LIABILITY:
The Museum will insure the loan of each work under its fine arts policy for the amount specified by the artist, which must reflect fair market value. The Museum and Artaxis cannot assume liability for loss or damage while works are in transit.
INSTALLATION:
All artwork will be installed professionally by the Museum’s exhibition coordinator and technician. Artwork that requires complex installation is the responsibility of the artist. The galleries are drywall with plywood backing. Any specialized pedestals, shelving, and mounting must be provided by the artist. The Museum reserves the right to remove work from the exhibit that is not ready to install or does not have proper installation materials.
Artists who wish to be present for the installation of their work must make prior arrangements with Michael Allen (michael.allen2@washburn.edu). Artists are responsible for travel and lodging expenses during installation.
PROMOTION:
Participating artists must agree to allow the Mulvane, Artaxis, and visitors to photograph artwork while on display for educational or publicity purposes. The Mulvane and Artaxis will retain submitted images of accepted work for use in promotional materials, media-related publications, and our websites and social media accounts.
AGREEMENT:
A loan agreement will be sent to accepted artists. Prior to or with shipment/delivery of work, artists must sign and return the agreement to the Museum’s collections manager, Jen McCollough (jen.mccollough@washburn.edu).
