With the significance of bonsai ceramics witnessing an ongoing surge in the West, the 13th of September 2025 saw the birth of the first International North American Bonsai Pottery Contest (NABPC) in Rochester, New York.

The NABPC was a celebration of the art, and the ceramics displayed are truly something to behold. It has been a pleasure to witness such commitment and dedication to the art, by both the extraordinary artists, and by the facilitators of the event.

Included in the display were ceramics by two ‘Honorary’ EBPC members. 
Roy Minarai created an exciting display in the honorary display category, and Anthony Smith of Willow Bonsai was awarded 1st place in the ‘contemporary glazed’ category, as seen below. 

Artists from across America and Canada produced very impressive entries for the following categories:

In addition to the sensational pot contest, visitors were treated to the non-competitive ‘honorary exhibits’ from a selection of celebrated ceramicists, including: Gayle Fiato, Roy Minarai, April Grigsby, Sara Rayner, and by French artist, The Ghost Potter.

Bonsai has a habit of creating lifelong friendships and strong bonds are often formed within the bonsai community, so when the community loses cherished friends and artists, it is always strongly felt by many.

Tribute displays were also created to honour and remember three such friends; Nick Lenz, Pauline Muth, and the U.K.’s Andrew Pearson of Stone Monkey Ceramics.

Judging a contest with such a varied and impressive selection of entries is no easy task. Being both functional items, and pieces of art in their own right, the ceramic entries displayed high levels of technical ability, combined with a deep appreciation of both bonsai and the ceramics they require. A spectacular display of workmanship, creativity and utility.

Bonsai as an artform is ever evolving, and whilst understanding and respecting the traditions that underlie bonsai is important, innovation and progression of bonsai ceramics is also to be encouraged and celebrated.    

The display encompassed a diverse range of artistic styles, forms and finishes, which was exciting to see, as it reflects the diverse range of bonsai trees and styles we cultivate and enjoy. Majestic and elegant traditional forms, expressive glazes, and some highly creative modern designs and interpretations. I would encourage anyone to spend a little time viewing all of the entries, through the links above.

After careful deliberation by a panel of esteemed judges, the winners were announced to much anticipation. Winning pots were lauded for their originality, craftsmanship, and functionality as a bonsai container.

First Place

•      Antony Smith (Contemporary Glazed)
•      Doug Trythall (Contemporary Unglazed)     
•      Nao Tokutake (Traditional Glazed)
•      Nao Tokutake (Unglazed)  
  

Second Place

• Stacy Allen Muse (Contemporary Glazed)
• Denise Soultanian (Contemporary Unglazed)
• Mary J. Lai (Wife of Nao Tokutake, Traditional Glazed)
• Mary J. Lai (Wife of Nao Tokutake, Traditional Unglazed)

 
Third Place

• Justine Stelmach (Contemporary Glazed)
• Thomas Adcock (Contemporary Unglazed)
• Kenneth V. Hanna (Traditional Glazed): 
• Mark Hanner (Traditional Unglazed)

The ABS Exhibition and the NABPC contest take place every two years, with the next edition in 2027. If you can't wait until then for more great bonsai pottery, don't miss the Trophy's European Bonsai Pottery Contest 28th March - 1st March 2026. 

We are delighted to announce that some of the winning pots from this NABPC will also be displayed at The European Bonsai Pottery Contest at The Trophy, in Belgium, as honorary exhibits for all to appreciate and enjoy. The winning pots from The Trophy’s EBPC pottery contest will also have the opportunity to be displayed at the NABPC in New York.

This collaboration between the NABPC and the EBPC & The Trophy reflects the friendship and support often found in bonsai, and we are confident it will inspire potters and further strengthen the bonds between our two communities.
 

to all of the potters that contributed to this inspirational contest. Being selected to display at such an event is an admirable achievement and each artist deserves our thanks and admiration. 

Along with a tree, the pot is an essential part of a bonsai, both functionally and aesthetically. The appropriate choice of pot can be very useful in promoting certain features of a tree, and in suggesting the environment and story behind that bonsai. 

Eddie's magnificent and suggestive bonsai ceramics are tactile and highly emotive, offering the bonsai artist a fresh, alternative approach to pot selection for exhibition quality trees. 

'Discovered' by our mutual friend, the much loved Andrew Pearson, of Stone Monkey Ceramics, at a prestigious ceramics exhibition, Eddie was persuaded to create a series of pots for use with bonsai, which until then he had only done for his own trees.
A project is also currently underway with Peter Warren, who is creating 2 bonsai through a collaboration of Eddie's work and 2 of his own trees.

I believe that the 'crossing over' of this celebreated artist from Studio pottery to bonsai ceramics will be beneficial to the ongoing evolution of European bonsai and its ceramics, which will also introduce the world of bonsai to the far greater audience of studio pottery enthusiasts around the world. 

 
- Read more about Eddie Curtis and his works in his EBPC Potter Profile here!  

- And don't miss the exclusive batch of bonsai pots by this famous artist in the EBPC Online-Store here.  
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                                            .... In-Store 1st August (Friday) at 18.00 GMT!

​Thank you for supporting the EBPC and our cherished bonsai potters and furniture makers of Europe.

Please join us in welcoming Michal Mokry to the EBPC family.

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Mindful of the intricates of bonsai display, this artist strives to creating pots that work most harmoniously with a tree. With clean straight lines and often seamlessly integrated feet, the tree remains the main focus of the composition, yet on closer inspection the shibui quality and dynamic glazes never fail to astound! 
 
Pots are made by a variety of methods, including ‘kurinuki’ hand-carved mame sized pots, and slab building for the Shohin and larger pots. Michal has also made some of his own forms/moulds by way of 3D printing, which he uses to help form the main body of more complex designs. 
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Read more about Michal and his work in his EBPC 'Artist Profile' here! 
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We are very excited to welcome Michal to the EBPC family, and a selection of his beautiful glazed pots will be available in the EBPC online store tomorrow
- Friday 28th March at 18.00pm (GMT).

BonsaiExpoUK has long been the EBPC's favourite UK show of the year!

Although not in any way 'elitist', this special exhibition has always striven towards helping everyone to consider, appreciate and improve, both the quality of their bonsai but also of the quality of displays in the U.K. The organisers are to be commended for their consciensious hard work, and efforts. Even outside of the event, having gone to the lengths of organising 'display' workshops and talks by professionals in preparation for this exhibition. 

The intricacies of bonsai display are fascinating, and executed with consideration and thought, can result in our trees being showing at their very best - highlighting the trees most favourable characteristics, and reinforcing the trees 'story' through the accompanying elements within the composition.

Having started as an evolution from a long running club level show (Heathrow Bonsai Show), in recent years BonsaiExpoUK has continued to rise in popularity, in the quality of trees and displays, and in the incredible atmosphere at this buzzing event. 

Last year, the entire display was dedicated to the pots of the great potter and painter: Itou Gekkou of Seto.

For me - the chance to display these great pieces and discuss the details of his pots and compositions with friends and enthusiasts is priceless. ​​

This year, the pot display will introduce & celebrate the works of some of the most successful and collectable of Japanese bonsai potters.

​I won't say too much before the exhibition, but there will be a blog article after the event.

​The EBPC will also be trading, and have some fantastic new pots from some of your favourite European artists - kept back especially for this event!

I am very excited to show off the great new pots we will have available - and to chat trees and pots with friends and customers (some are both!). 

If you can make it to Crawley on the 13th of April 2025, this is certainly an event not to be missed! 
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Thanks, and see you there,
Alex

……After many years of an ‘open invite’, we are delighted to announce that the well-known & much-loved French artist ‘Greg-Ceramics’ of France is now officially a member of the EBPC family. 
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Please JOIN US in WELCOMING Greg to the EBPC, your comments are interactions are much appreciated and help spread the word! ​

With artists as celebrated as Greg however, it is easy and a pleasure!! This highly acclaimed artist was eligible to join from the beginning.
Greg has been enabling and inspiring the bonsai community for well over a decade with his distinguished and often intricate creations, and the EBPC are honoured to recommend highly Greg’s wonderful artisan bonsai ceramics.  

 Greg has created a wonderful collection of pots for EBPC customers, which we are very proud to release this Sunday at the UK’s premiere bonsai show – Bonsai Expo UK! 

​.. A taster for you. 

Exquisite entries from 33 of Europe's most talented bonsai potters were featured this year, in the EBPC Pot Display at the prestigious 'Trophy Bonsai Exhibition' over a magnificent 100ft display.

The quality and diverse variety of entries this year was particularly impressive, with entries ranging from the classical styles, to cutting edge techniques and  contemporary themes. We will look at the display in full in another article. 

​ The winning entry was this striking wide-rim ceramic pot with a Lotus-shaped form and bespoke wooden base, by Fukurou Ceramics of Switzerland.

The pot has a wonderful blue/green aquamarine glaze, with impressive crystal nucleation​. The lower part of this piece is an intricate, structurally designed wooden base that the pot inserts seamlessly into. Also made by the artist, the structure and inlay technique used here, further showcase his exceptional and varied talents.

... From Fukurou's EBPC Potter Profile: 
'Fukurou Ceramics are the bonsai ceramic creations of Patrik Luthi, a gifted artist from the picturesque country of Switzerland. These high-quality handmade pieces have a touch of the Japanese aesthetic, yet retain a distinctive ‘Fukurou’ style. Designs are inspired by classical forms and are very suitable for use with good quality bonsai trees. ‘As with bonsai, I feel mostly attracted by the traditional pots, but love to develop new glaze recipes and new shapes.’
 
Being the grandson of a woodsman, and having grown up around the woods, mountains and lakes of Switzerland, Patrik has always had a close affinity with nature and has kept bonsai for over a decade. Studying at the renowned Kitoras Bonsai School under Nicola Crivelli, Patrik has developed a keen eye for bonsai design and aesthetics – an essential requisite for creating high quality bonsai ceramics.  
 
Pots are mostly thrown on a potter’s wheel, or slab built and come in a variety of forms. Unglazed wares come in a range of clays, including a wonderful dark grey, and a reddish-brown clay. No commercial glazes are used, as Patrik enjoys experimenting and creating exciting new glazes.'

Thank you to Patrik, and all of the talented artists that contributed to the magnificent display of bonsai ceramics this year. 
Please look out for the coming post on the Pot Display. 

Thank you for following and supporting the EPBC.


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PLEASE give a WARM EBPC WELCOME to our new Members – the truly lovely and extremely talented couple; Nadja & Sandro Tschudin of Switzerland - aka Kawasemi Studios! 
 
The EBPC are thrilled to be working with Nadja & Sandro, and to be able to bring their expertise and wealth of knowledge to you! 

'Our aim is to provide everything you need for Suiseki: stones, the wooden bases, Suiban, matching scrolls and also education and knowledge. Like this we want to share our love for stones and fine arts as well as raise people's awareness of how to combine elements in displays'. ​

Kawasemi add an exciting new dimension to the EBPC.

We are delighted to welcome Nadja & Sandro into the EBPC family and look forward to learning more about the world of Suiseki and Kawasemi Studios.  

You can view Kawasemi's POTTER PROFILE & GALLERY of WORKS here!

​Thank you for supporting the EBPC and great European Bonsai Potters. 
Your support enables us to bring you more .. 
More Info, more Choice & more Value!

                                             SUBMISSIONS TAKEN FROM  15th JULY - 28th NOVEMBER 2023!
 
                                                            CALLING ALL BONSAI CERAMISTS of EUROPE
 
In February 2024, Europe’s most prestigious bonsai exhibition will again be hosting the largest display of high-quality bonsai ceramics in Europe – the EBPC Trophy Pot Display! 
 
We love celebrating and bringing more attention to the pots! Since the EBPC first started pot displays in 2015, the POT DISPLAY has become an integral part of leading bonsai exhibitions across Europe, as it has been for many years in Japan. 
 
As enthusiasts and professionals alike attach increasing recognition to the importance of quality European bonsai ceramics, the main purpose of the display is to enhance appreciation in the art of bonsai pottery and to highlight the aesthetics and functionality of high-quality bonsai pots.

The pot display will exhibit 100ft of the best in European bonsai ceramics and will be a great education for the general public and bonsai enthusiasts – in addition to being an integral part of Europe’s finest bonsai exhibition.
 
Successful entrants will enjoy viewing their work on display at Europe’s most prestigious exhibition, and additionally each pot displayed will be forever recorded with a half page entry in the celebrated Trophy annual hardback book. ​

​Please CLICK HERE to take register & part in  
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THE TROPHY BONSAI EXHIBITION 2024 EBPC POT DISPLAY

Thank you for helping to support great European Bonsai Pottery
www.EuropeanBonsaiPotterCollective.com

​Many of the best trees in the U.K. were on display as well as suiseki and bonsai ceramics. The traders area was a treat for enthusiasts and traders alike, with trees from some of the UK's leading bonsai nurseries, pot dealers, potters, sellers of tools and everything else a bonsai aficionado could want! 

For a better idea of what was on display, Sylvestris Studios were comissioned to create a video documentary of the show, which is definitely worth a watch.
​ You can find it here. ​

The EBPC were asked to put on a bonsai pot display, which this year was in the theme of cascades. 'The Ups and Downs of Bonsai'.  
Here are just a few pics (didn’t get a minute to get more!) of the day and of some of the pot display.  It was great to meet up with old friends as always.

​ … pictured above - Les Storey with one of his winning trees, a stunning blackthorn in a gorgeous Stone Monkey pot … an excellent windswept Hawthorne display by Russ Farley, displayed on a table by DR Bonsai Tables … and I was nursed back to health by frog boy, Simon Haddon of Sukteki bonsai pots

A few of the pots on display .. 

​A few people were heard saying that this was the best show in the UK to date, and the quality, not only of the trees, but also of the intricacies of display, was very impressive. It is quite obvious from the exhibition that British enthusiasts are paying more attention to quality pot, stands, accents and display details. With some of the displays being at a high standard for a show anywhere in the world. 

www.EuropeanBonsaiPotterCollective.com