TWO Baltimore ceramic artists have been selected to take part in a major exhibition in Kilkenny which is running until  mid-July.

Works by Nicola Kelly and Aisling Roche are showcased in the Design & Crafts Council Ireland exhibition entitled ‘From the Ground Up: The Transformation of Irish Clay’.

The landmark exhibition celebrates the strength, vitality, diversity and international significance of contemporary Irish ceramics.

Bringing together 43 of Ireland’s leading ceramic artists, the exhibition represents more than 1,000 years of combined experience, creativity and craftsmanship.

Nicola Kelly has exhibited widely across Ireland and Europe, with shows including the European Prize for Applied Art (World Craft Council, Belgium) and the National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.

Aisling Roche has exhibited widely in Ireland, with shows at the Grilse Gallery, RHA Dublin, Vanguard Cork, and Uillinn Skibbereen. Her sculptures are held in both public and private collections across Ireland and the UK.

While each artist brings a distinct voice and vision, all are united by a profound respect for material, process, and place—an understanding that clay is not merely a medium, but a living connection between earth, maker, and culture.

From the Ground Up traces the evolution of Irish clay from its deep and ancient local roots to its confident place on the international stage.

The featured artists have worked and exhibited extensively across Ireland and internationally, including in Europe, the United States, South America, Japan, China, and India.

‘Irish ceramics are experiencing a remarkable moment. This exhibition celebrates artists who are pushing clay into new territories of meaning, form, and expression—affirming the global significance of Ireland’s vibrant ceramic

Community,’ said exhibition curator John Goode.

‘The exhibition celebrates not only the technical mastery, dedication, and innovation that define these makers, but also the powerful narratives carried within their work.

‘Through clay, they tell stories of landscape and language, heritage and experimentation, memory, identity, and transformation. Some works echo the rugged Atlantic coastline or the quiet resilience of rural communities, while others push material boundaries in bold and contemporary directions. All are rooted in a deep engagement with the land and the cultural memory embedded within it.’

From the Ground Up: The Transformation of Irish Clay opened on March 21st and runs until July 18th, at the DCCI Craft Gallery, Kilkenny City. Admission is free.

Visit dcci.ie/events/transformation-of-irish-clay/ for more information.