Most art is hands-on, but Ceramics is hands in. It’s a major that lets you dig deep—literally, if you like!—by pushing clay you sourced and made yourself into any shape or context you can imagine, then placing it directly into a glorious fire. This ancient, elemental art form inspires constant reinterpretation, and attracts risk-takers, mold-breakers, and dream-makers.
Ceramics students balance practical techniques, the history of the craft, and conceptual possibilities, offering insight into multiple traditional and contemporary practices within the form.
This combination of theory and practice develops thoughtful, respectful, functional and inventive ceramicists.
The program offers three streams: design and technology, objects, and sculpture, which allows each student to adapt their practice to the outcome best suited to them. In class, you’ll interrogate the relationships between design, materials, colour, process, and techniques. You’ll be asked to question the materials, methods, and social and environmental impact of your work.
FOUNDATION PROGRAM: You will start your NSCAD degree with an immersive Foundation studies program. This first year introduces you to all the disciplines and practices we teach at NSCAD, and it will equip you with the critical and creative skills you need to thrive in art and design school.
NSCAD boasts one of the best Ceramics facilities in North America, where students make their own clay on site, and have access to:
The studio also produces a large selection of in-house made clay.
Ceramics graduates go on to develop their own practices while working as curators, art administrators, educators, sculptors, potters, entrepreneurs, retail buyers, art educators, homeware designer, and designers for industry.
