Join this year’s judge, Richard Fahey, for a floor talk exploring the finalists works selected for the Portage Ceramic Awards 2026.

Richard will share insights into his approach to judging this year’s exhibition, discussing the works, ideas and practices that stood out to him and offering a closer look at the breadth of contemporary ceramics represented in the exhibition.

A wonderful opportunity to hear directly from the judge and gain deeper insight into not only the winning works - but many of the stand out pieces within the exhibition. 

Richard Fahey is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Creative Industries, Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec, Tāmaki Makaurau, teaching design and contemporary art since 1992. His research is focused on the material culture of Aotearoa, looking at how objects, making practices and institutions shape the way we see and value contemporary culture. He’s interested in the intersections between education, critical discourse, collecting and display, and how these systems affect artists and audiences. Fahey has a particular interest in contemporary ceramics, and has been commissioned by Objectspace to curate the exhibitions Clay Economies (2008), Richard Parker: Master of Craft (2010), Tender Brick: The Material Epiphanies of Peter Hawkesby (2020) and Teapot Meditations: The Practical Poetry of Chris Weaver (2024).