2026 Ndebele Mining Gauteng Regional Ceramic Exhibition: Entry Guidelines
Eligibility and Entry Requirements
- The 2026 Ndebele Mining Gauteng Regional Ceramic Exhibition is a juried event open exclusively to members of Ceramics Southern Africa Gauteng who are in good standing.
- All entries must be the original work of the artist.
- Each artist is permitted to submit up to five pieces, with the option for one of these to be a set, group (no more than 10 pieces), or installation.
- Submitted work may not be larger than 1 meter in any direction and may not weigh more than 30kg.
- It is important to note that all works submitted must not have been previously entered or exhibited at any other exhibition.
- A non-refundable entry fee of R350 is required for participation.
- New members are required to pay an additional pro-rated membership fee, making the total payable R500.
- All submitted works must be composed of at least 90% ceramic material.
- Decorated commercial bisqueware will not be accepted for consideration.
- The selling prices must include a 40% commission to Ceramics Southern Africa. For example, if an item sells for R1,000, R600 goes to the member and R400 to CSA
- If any display props are included with the artwork, their value must be reflected in the selling price.
Submission Specifications
- For each piece submitted, four images are required:
- one showing the front view, one with a matchbox placed next to the piece to indicate its size
- two additional images from different angles.
- all photographs must be of high quality, taken against a white or pale grey background
- each image should be square in format, must not exceed 3mb in file size and should have a minimum resolution of 300 pixels
Selection Process and Regulations
- Selectors reserve the right to remove any work upon delivery if it fails to meet the established standards or does not conform to the stated regulations.
- No late entries will be considered under any circumstances.
- The decisions made by the selectors are final, and there will be no discussions or appeals regarding their choices.
Important Additional Note
- Members with accepted work must complete a ‘pot sitting’ shift or pay a R250 fee if unable to do so.
Potsitting means stepping into the heart of the CSA Gauteng regional exhibition. By volunteering, you temporarily look after the gallery, guide visitors, and help sell beautiful ceramics—both your own and those of your peers. It is a fantastic chance to study the selected masterpieces at your own pace, connect deeply with fellow ceramicists on duty, and invite friends or collectors for a personal, guided tour of the exhibition.
Selectors
Wilhelm Van Rensburg
Wilhelm van Rensburg (b.1958, Johannesburg) is a prolific champion of art whose output marries scholarly research and critical writing with curating. He has organised important exhibitions for Irma Stern, Judith Mason, JH Pierneef and, most recently, Christo Coetzee.
After completing his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Johannesburg in 1981, Wilhelm began teaching at high school, later moving to lecturing at universities and furthering his studies in education. He was a senior lecturer in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Johannesburg (2001–09) and has been a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Art Design & Architecture at the same institution since 2010. Early on, though, Wilhelm decided to complement his academic career in education with writing, curating and dealing. He was the chief art critic for Beeld newspaper (1993–2003) and continues to write extensively about art. Wilhelm was co-director of Gallery Art on Paper (2006–16), an independent-minded gallery that presented shows by important historical and contemporary artists.
Wilhelm has a long-standing relationship with Standard Bank Gallery, for whom he has organised major survey exhibitions for Irma Stern (2003), Judith Mason (2009), JH Pierneef (2015) and Christo Coetzee (2018), as well as curated the educational programme for the exhibition Henri Matisse: Rhythm and Meaning (2016). In addition, he curated Mail Art/ists’ Books at the Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts (2023) and has written articles for the annual De Kat publication on Contemporary African Art (2021), Contemporary South African Ceramics (2022) and Outsider Artists in South Africa (2023).
Since 2019, Wilhelm has curated seven notable annual legacy exhibitions at Strauss & Co: The Meeting of Minds: Louis Maqhubela & Douglas Portway (2019); Parallel Lives: Gladys Mgudlandlu & Maggie Laubser (2020); Social Stances: George Pemba & Robert Hodgins (2021); Invisible Connections: Mary Sibande & Dorothy Kay (2022); the Sydney Kumalo & Ezrom Legae Retrospective Sculpture Exhibition (2023); Alfred Thoba February 2024; Gerard Sekoto and Lena Hugo, 2025; as well as a special ceramic show on Kalahari Ware (February 2025). Next up: a large-scale exhibition, titled Intersections; Bill Ainslie ad the Johannesburg Art Foundation at Wits Art Museum, opening late-November 2025, and running till end-March 2026.
Wilhelm joined Strauss & Co as an Art Specialist in 2016. He works out of our Johannesburg office. Wilhelm is qualified to address any enquiries related to Paintings, Watercolours, Drawings, Prints, Sculpture and New Media on behalf of Strauss & Co.
Nindya Bucktowar
Nindya Bucktowar was born in Mauritius in 1988. She is a multi-disciplinary artist who experiments with clay and mixed media to create installations inspired by natural and urban landscapes. The realisation of her technically and conceptually complex work is made possible through her cumulative experience in art, science, and architecture. Her home studio is in Durban, KZN, where she strives for sustainable practices in her process of art making. Her current interest lies in capturing topographical scenes using clay as medium, the boundaries of which she explores in the creation of immersive installations.
Bucktowar graduated with a Bachelor’s in Architectural Studies from Nelson Mandela University in 2013. She currently lectures in the Architectural Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and runs her own multidisciplinary design practice and ceramic business. At the beginning of 2021, Bucktowar was selected for the RMB Talent Unlocked programme in association with Everard Read and Strauss & Co, which allowed her to exhibit at Circa Gallery in Johannesburg. She has also participated in group shows at the KZNSA Gallery and African Art Centre. Collaborative projects include working with Durban Art Gallery, South African Network Cities, 100% Design, Mr Price, and Red Bull.
Sonwabiso Ngcai
Sonwabiso Ngcai is a ceramic artist and lecturer from Buntingville, a rural village near Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He holds a Diploma and BTech in Fine Art from Walter Sisulu University, both awarded cum laude, and a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the Vaal University of Technology. He is currently based in kuGompo (formerly East London), where he lectures in the Visual Arts Department at Walter Sisulu University.
Ngcai’s practice centres on ceramic sculpture, engaging material processes alongside questions of identity, history, and indigenous knowledge systems. He has taught at the Vaal University of Technology and Nelson Mandela University, and has contributed internationally as a visiting lecturer at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, in 2022. In 2025, he facilitated a ceramic workshop in Tanzania under the research theme Reinterpreting Maasai Objects and Masculinity, and in 2026, he participated in a conference in Paderborn (Neuenbeken), Germany, titled Mediating Mission Collections.
Awards Judge
Digby Hoets
Digby Hoets (South Africa), aged 74, has been working as a potter since 1973 and from his studio in Midrand since 1994. He is a seventh-generation South African with a deep affinity for Africa and African objects. His focus is on making groups of large pots. “I believe my pots reflect my personal experiences and love of pots – modern and ancient, European, African or Oriental. I mainly exhibit my work from my studio and mainly outdoors. In making my pots I craft the same form over and over again with an appreciation of the subtle changes arising from the process. I will then build on this learning in subsequent pots. This has resulted in a slow evolution over the 50 years I have been making groups of pots. Most of my glazes are based on simple materials which result in warm, natural colours that are in harmony with an African environment. My pots are reduction fired to 1380 degrees centigrade as the combination of high temperature, the reduction atmosphere and the wood ash glazes cause a reaction between clay and glaze which give me these rich glaze qualities and effects.”
Awards
Strauss and Co Premier Award
Strauss & Co is Africa’s leading fine art and wine auction house, renowned for specializing in modern and contemporary art, Ceramics, collectable design, and premium vintage wines. Strauss and Co is our Premier award sponsor this year with a monetary award of R8000
RMB New Signature Award
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) won multiple major accolades in 2026, including being named Africa’s Best Investment Bank at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence.
RMB is sponsoring the New Signature Award this year to further up and coming ceramic talent with a monetary award of R10000
Van Tuyl Special Voucher Award
Van Tuyl Studios is a premier South African pottery destination and supplier that provides ceramic artists with a wide range of clays, glazes, kilns, and equipment.
They will be sponsoring a R2500 product voucher award.
Two Glacecor Awards
Glazecor is a specialized supplier that manufactures and distributes ceramic materials, casting slips, and custom-formulated glazes for both commercial potters and ceramic artists.
They will be sponsoring two voucher awards this year both valued at R4000 each.
Potters Supply and Mail Order Voucher Award
Potters Supplies and Mail Order (PSMO) in Randvaal, South Africa, provides rapid delivery of ceramic materials like pugged clay, glazes, and kilns, bringing studio essentials to potters nationwide.
They will be sponsoring a voucher award to the value of R1500
Zakhile and Clay Cafe Award
Zakhile Kilns (also known as Zakhele Kilns) are custom-designed, locally manufactured thermal units in South Africa used for pottery, glass fusing, and heat treatment. Founded by Zakhele Mbele, they are highly regarded by local artists and technicians for being affordable, durable, and easily repairable. Clay Cafe is a popular, family-friendly creative hub where visitors can paint their own ceramics while enjoying a relaxing restaurant and café experience.
They will be sponsoring a service award whereby the recipient will receive a kiln service with a monetary value of R2000
