On August 27, the Ackland Art Museum at the University of North Carolina hosted a panel titled "Artist Conversation: Radical Ceramicists in North Carolina," featuring three female ceramicists: Hitomi Shibata, Isys Hennigar, and Jessica Dupuis. The event was part of programming around the museum's exhibition "Radical Clay," which highlights work by female Japanese ceramicists. Panelists discussed the historical marginalization of women in ceramics—Shibata noted that in 1990s Japan, studios refused to hire women, while Hennigar explained that until the early 20th century in North Carolina, female artists were only allowed to be decorators, not master ceramicists. The conversation also explored how ceramic pieces reflect their geographic origins and the importance of local artistic communities, such as Seagrove, N.C., which has the largest community of potters in the U.S.
This panel matters because it brings attention to the ongoing gender discrimination in the ceramics field, both in Japan and the United States, and highlights the resilience and diversity of female ceramicists working today. By connecting a local North Carolina audience with global perspectives—Shibata trained in Japan and now works in Seagrove—the Ackland Art Museum fosters dialogue about how art forms can transcend cultural boundaries while still reflecting local identity. The event underscores the museum's role in amplifying historically marginalized voices and using temporary exhibitions as catalysts for community engagement and critical conversation.