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.

​A dedicated family man, Andrew was a loving husband and father, and a loyal and caring friend to many, including myself. He will be sorely missed by many. Our thoughts go out to his wife Marie and family. 

Andrew's work is therefore usually recognisable at a glance, as is often the case for the very best artists. ​

​Instrumental in the formation of the EBPC in 2017, Andrew was not only a big inspiration, but was also very supportive from the very inception. Many exquisite Stone Monkey Ceramics pots, with EBPC stamps, are now in the hands of enthusiasts worldwide, for which we are very grateful to him. Representing Andrew and his world-class bonsai ceramics has been an honour and a pleasure. 
​

​In 2015, with the encouragement of Peter Warren and Akiyama San, Andrew was invited to take part in the 10th Annual Shohachi contest at the Gafu Ten in Kyoto, Japan.

​An incredible honour, especially as non-Japanese were not previously eligable to participated. ​

Not only was Andrew the first non-Japanese artist invited to participate in this world leading contest, but he went on to take gold in the unglazed category! His attention to detail was outstanding, in both the razor sharp lines and relief carvings.

​In so doing, Andrew helped strengthen the bond with Japanese bonsai, and also open the gates for other leading artists across the world to be able enter this prestigious event.

In 2015 Andrew also decided with friends and fellow well-known potters Tom Benda and Thor Holvila, to meet on a yearly basis at a new location, and produce unique artisanal pieces created as a fusion of three very different styles. The Triskele group was born. 

​Andrew was also a big fan of studio ceramics, and I was always absorbed when I got the chance to see his collection. ​Especially fascinating to him were the Mashiko style works resulting from the collaboration between Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada in the 1920's, and the great artists this movement has produced since. 

In a professional capacity, Andrew spent 7 years as a paramedic before joining Transport for London in 1998, to which he dedicated the next 26 years. After just 3 years he had become a fire compliance specialist, at which he excelled. A decade later, in 2011, Andrew progressed to Fire Engineer, which he continued to thrive at until his untimely passing.
At the end of January 2025, Andrew was due to retire from his work at the London Underground, to concentrate on his ceramics full time. 

Andrew was very well known in the global bonsai community. He was a multi-award winning artist, and was the feature of a multitude of articles in various magazine and book publications. 

Many bonsai potters, including some of Europe & America's most celebrated, have benefited from the help and words of advice of this great artist. Andrew liked to share his knowledge to the benefit of other artists and to improve bonsai ceramics in general. 

Andrew's legacy will live on, in those touched by his generous nature, in his thousands of exquisite creations, and through his impact on European and global bonsai ceramics.

​

​A memorial will be held for Andrew on Saturday 4th January, 2025 – 1pm start.
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     The Community Centre -  Tn126eb
     Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent.
     
◦            We will be there until 7pm, you are welcome to stay as long as you wish
◦            We have booked the whole centre where is plenty of parking and everyone is welcome.
◦            no dress code, just wear your favourite outfit.
◦          If you'd like to make a gift we're setting up a Justgiving page for donations to The Ambulance Staff Charity.
◦            It's an easy walk from Paddock Wood Train Station.
◦            Please let me know if you intend to come for catering purposes and any dietary requirements.
◦            Also, please let me know if you would like to say something.
◦            Please use this email:                 [email protected]
*Also use this email for any messages, memories and photographs of Andy you wish to share.

Goodbye my dear friend. Rest in peace. 

Pictured above is the plaque recording and celebrating all of the stamps and signatures used by Andrew Pearson of Stone Monkey Ceramics throughout his career. Currently the only such plaque in existence, Andrew kindly produced this for the EBPC to be used for pot displays and it can be seen above in the company of plaques by Japanese greats - Gyouzan, Bigei, Reiho, and Kakuzan. 

Revered across the bonsai world, Stone Monkey Ceramics comprehends and is conscious of the the tree-pot marriage and produces excellent designs, in a variety of forms and finishes that suit trees impeccably. As the first Westener to have been invited to participate in the world's leading bonsai exhibition and small pot contest, 'The Gafu-ten', (which he won first place in the unglazed section!!) we thought it fitting to have such a plaque made by Andrew - the first by a European potter as far as we know. 

The EBPC are proud to support such artists, and we are very excited to be able to offer a range of 20 exclusive pots by this leading artist - COMING VERY SOON! 

Thank you for supporting the EBPC and great European bonsai ceramics. 

The bonsai workshop was busy again, and some great trees were worked on over the two days. A variety of games and raffles were also arranged, with many local businesses around Ashford kindly donating raffle prizes. In addition to raising money for a great cause, a fun weekend was had by all. 

The EBPC is very excited to offer for sale the 'Raku Series' from Stone Monkey Ceramics. 
Dual stamped with the EBPC stamp together with the Stone Monkey Ceramics mark, these superb pots come in a wonderful variety of forms and colours!

Raku is a Japanese technique of firing ceramics such as 'chawan' tea bowls. Rather than placing the ceramics in a cool kiln, raku ware goes straight into a hot kiln for a time, and then are cooled rapidly. Raku pots are cooked to around 1000 degrees centigrade, which is lower than stoneware, and as such they do not reach the heat required to 'vitrify' or make them 'frost proof'. They are however superb, useable bonsai or accent pots and the flames and extreme changes in temperature offer some quite stunning results. These were fired in a kiln belonging to a  friend of Andrew, as his new studio and kilns are being built. 

Please see the online store for the selection. 

A little about the pots and the potter's inspirations for them...

Thor Holvila - 'Temple'. ​

​ ... After a few days we journeyed up into the mountains and the log cabin. The inspiration for this pot with its primitive carvings is inspired by the old buildings standing on the slopes of the Älvdalen valley.

​The atmosphere in Thor's studio in Goteborg was full of inspiration from the very beginning. My muse made me remember that I've made a few simple pots from one single piece of clay, but still having everything that a bonsai pot needs - walls, bottom with drainage/and wire holes and feet. This time I just had to aim a bit higher again 😉
"One piece of clay" was a redline bounding most of the pots I made during the wonderful Triskele meeting vol.1 - Sweden 😀

The launch of the sale will be at Bonsai Europa on 7th October, however they will also be available online on that day also. If you are interested in purchasing one of these unique pieces of history, please email Alex at the EBPC to be added to the list. We will contact you again before the pots are sold. 

To read about the first set produced last year, please click here.