Upcoming Events

Tuesday: 12:00-6:00 pm
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00 pm
Friday: 12:00-6:00 pm
Saturday: 12:00-6:00 pm

The Great Lakes interconnect, not just via waterways and shorelines, but in the myriad ways that they link people. They sustain economies, ecosystems, and cultures. Their natural beauty inspires creative expression. Like the Great Lakes, art has the awesome power to transcend the physical and foster human connection.

Yourist Studio Gallery in Ann Arbor, MI, invites ceramists residing in the states of MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, OH, NY, and PA, or ON, Canada, to submit work for consideration in the Great Lakes Cup Show. This juried exhibition and sale takes place October 23 - November 14, 2026, in our gallery. The show will feature a diverse range of cups - from functional to figurative to sculptural - that aim to connect with a wide audience. We are seeking high-quality work that showcases the spectrum of forms, colors, textures, imagery, and techniques used by ceramists across our region. Our hope is to inspire shared appreciation for Great Lakes ceramics – with the cup as our vessel!

Show Details

Judges: TBD
Application Open:  April 1
Applications Due:   September 1
Entry Fee:  $25
Application Website:  CallForEntry.org (CaFE)
Notification of Accepted Works:  September 15
Artwork Due to Gallery:  October 11
Ship to/Drop Off Address:  Yourist Studio Gallery, 6087 Jackson Rd., Ste 200, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103

The Great Lakes Cup Show is open to all regional artists 18+ years of age. Applicants are asked to submit 3 original ceramic cups to be juried from digital photos. Works can be any amalgam of clay, as long as they are open-topped vessels, skillfully made, with space to hold water. Judges for this show will consider originality, composition, craftsmanship, cohesion of the body of work, and the Artist Statement in their decisions. Photos submitted with the application should be of the actual cups that, if accepted, would be featured in the gallery.

Juried cups will be displayed alongside those of a selection of Invited Artists (TBD), and will be eligible for Best in Show and 2nd  and 3rd Place monetary prizes presented at the Opening Night Reception; there will also be a Peoples’ Choice vote during the run of the show, the winner of which will receive a cash award. All cups will be for sale and priced by the artist. Gallery commission on sales is 35%, with payment by check 10 days after the show’s conclusion.

Applications will be accepted via the CallForEntry.org (CaFE) online platform. Artist membership to CaFE is free. Please be prepared to include the following in your application (* =  required items):

• Contact Info (Name, Address, Phone, Email)*
• Studio Name
• Website or Instagram
• Artist Statement (up to 150 words):*  Briefly describe what inspires your creativity and how this is reflected through your ceramic art.
• Title / Dimensions / Material / Firing Process / Price for each of 3 Cups*
• A Digital Photo for each of 3 Cups that constitute a body of work*

Digital Photo Note: 

We encourage applicants to photograph in optimal conditions - preferably a light booth - so that judges have the best opportunity to view work. Please follow CaFE’s digital photo guidelines and adhere to the minimum image requirements:

• Dimensions: At least 1200 pixels on the longest side
• File Size: Under 5MB
• File Format: JPG or JPEG

Use the following File Name format:  Lastname_Firstname_Cup#.jpg   e.g. Yourist_Kay_Cup1.jpg

Submissions received after September 1, 2026, at midnight will not be considered.

Questions?:  Kay Yourist, YSGCupShow@gmail.com, (734) 662-4914