Drew Anstine, a junior studio art major with an emphasis in ceramics, received a second place Award of Excellence at the 2025 NCECA (National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts) national conference in Salt Lake City. Her piece, “Grasp,” was included in the National Student Juried Exhibition.
“I was surprised, but so excited,” Anstine said. “I was so stoked to be accepted into the exhibition and was just happy to be there, but getting an award is such an incredible honor to me. I will never forget that moment.”
The exhibit is hosted annually by NCECA. The application allows a submission of up to three pieces. This year, 320 artists submitted a total of 937 images. Twenty-three pieces by 23 artists were accepted into the show.
Her winning piece is titled “Grasp.”
“The piece is made of four porcelain slip-casted balloons with hand-painted images, cone six glazes, and attached wire,” they said. “The piece is a result of my research in mold-making last summer. I decided on this form because I was interested in finding ways to showcase ceramics in spaces that traditionally aren’t set up for 3D pieces. When I was painting these, I was thinking about my family, my past and letting things go.”
Anstine has been working in ceramics at the college level since 2021.
“I have always been drawn to art and creative outlets since childhood, but it took me a long time to come to terms with choosing art as my academic/life path,” they said. “Ceramics can be so frustrating and humbling when things don’t work how you envision, but to me, it just makes the wins and successes even more exciting. Working within a process where mistakes and failures can seem constant, the itch to get it right or to find creative solutions is also continuous.”
Anstine came to Nebraska from Metro Community College, where they studied ceramics with Antonio Martinez.
“Despite having taken several semesters of ceramics at Metro, upon transferring to UNL, Drew began taking beginning ceramics, in which they excelled,” said Associate Professor of Art (Ceramics) Margaret Bohls. “They have had equal success in successive ceramics classes at UNL. Drew’s work is inspired, in part, by early 20th century tattoo art. Drew has become a core part of the UNL ceramics community and is an active member of the Clay Club student organization.”
This fall, they will spend the semester abroad studying at Ulster University in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“I’m really looking forward to representing UNL abroad and working in the ceramics and art program at Ulster,” they said.
Second-year graduate student in ceramics Emmanuel Asamoah (known as KStony) also had work accepted into the National Student Juried Exhibition.
“The show featured only 23 artists, juried from hundreds of applications, two of which were from UNL,” Bohls said.
Asamoah said he was honored to have his work accepted into the exhibition.
“It felt like a huge milestone in my journey as an artist, and it was incredibly validating to be selected among so many talented students nationwide,” he said. “It was impactful to be surrounded by so many passionate artists. It reminded me of why I chose this path and gave me a renewed sense of purpose.”
His piece in the exhibit was titled “Fix It.”
“It’s a mixed-media ceramic sculpture that explores how life presents us with difficulties, some of which seem impossible,” he said. “Yet, like the welded metal integrated within the ceramic structure, these challenges become entangled with our existence, shaping who we are and how we navigate the world. We cannot always fix everything that comes our way, but we can endure the pain and persevere.”
Asamoah said his experience at NCECA was “amazing.”
“The highlights included attending thought-provoking lectures, engaging with my Ghanian community and fellow artists, having the chance to talk to some icons in the ceramics and sculpture world, and seeing such a wide range of work from across the country,” he said. “I also had the chance to share my experience as an international student at the International Student ‘Call to Meeting’ as a special guest, which was a meaningful moment for me. It really inspired me and gave me new ideas and motivation to push my practice further. It was also a great opportunity to network and feel part of a larger artistic conversation.”
In addition, second-year graduate student Josh Goering and undergraduate student Marina Kushner both participated in the poster session at the conference. Goering, who uses “wild” clay (locally found clay mined by hand) is investigating particular clays from the Dakota formation, mined in Kansas and Nebraska. Kushner’s poster presented the results of a two-year long UCARE project developing variations on a high fire reduction glaze developed by Professor of Art Peter Pinnell.
First-year graduate student Amy Sanders’ work was included in the third annual Juried Functional Teapot Show at the Salt Lake Convention Center, one of the NCECA concurrent exhibitions.
UNL alumnus Austin Coudriet (B.F.A. 2019) was also honored at NCECA as one of only six Emerging Artists. These honorees had an exhibition of their work at the conference, received a $3,300 fellowship award and delivered an artist lecture about their work.
“It was totally surreal—honestly, it felt like I had won the lottery,” Coudriet said. “I was deeply honored and humbled to be named one of only six Emerging Artists. NCECA has played such a big role in my development as an artist. I remember looking up to so many of the past Emerging Artists, admiring their work and the paths they carved out. It’s both humbling and motivating to join a group that’s shaped so much of the field I love. The recognition is a surge of confidence that all the long hours, late nights and moving across the country chasing clay dreams have paid off.”
Coudriet is a long-term resident at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts.
“I’m 20 months into a two-year residency,” he said. “Alongside that, I’m laying the groundwork for a new venture: Dusty Pants Studio, which my partner Sarah Anderson and I are opening in Indianapolis in 2026.”
Dusty Pants Studio will be part community studio, part residency program and part therapy space.
“Our mission is to nurture the symbiotic relationship between wellness and creativity, empowering our community to grow through hands-on experiences, mindful practices, and collaborative learning.”
It’s been six years since he graduated from Nebraska, and Coudriet says his work has come a long way since then. He’s still rooted in the same ideas—making dysfunctional vessels and functional sculpture.
“What’s changed is the level of refinement and ambition,” he said. “My craftsmanship has grown, the scale of my work has expanded, and I’m more intentional with my time. I’ve also stepped into the role of educator, which has added a new layer of depth and reflection to my practice. Teaching has challenged me to articulate my ideas more clearly and stay curious, both in and out of the studio.”