Introduction

Since 2014, AMOCA has hosted an annual juried exhibition showcasing the remarkable talents of high school students studying the ceramic arts. Starting in 2020, the exhibition has been virtual. Over 550 applications were submitted for the 2024 exhibition, and 101 were selected by Museum staff through a collective jury process.

To learn more about the program and view past exhibitions, visit the link below.

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Teen Council

With support from the Ruth and Joseph C. Reed Foundation for the Arts, AMOCA hosts an internship and professional development group for high school students. Students receive access to exclusive museum areas and events, develop their college resume, meet professional artists, and receive complimentary access to the AMOCA Ceramics Studio. Council membership is free thanks to grant funding.

To learn more and apply to join the program, visit the link below.

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Exhibition Acknowledgments

This program generously funded provided, in part, through grants from Ruth and Joseph C. Reed Foundation for the Arts and the DEW Foundation.

Exhibition Awards Ceremony

On Saturday May 4, 2024 at 10am, AMOCA premiered a pre-recorded awards ceremony that included a presentation of the entire virtual exhibition.

Exhibition Award Winners

9th & 10th Grade

Honorable Mention: Wyatt Stebbins

Wyatt Stebbins, Movement in the Clay, Wheel thrown stoneware set with wild clay brushed on. Soda ash water sprayed on and fired to cone 5/6 oxidation. 9″ x 7″ x 7″; 4.5″ x 5″ x 5″; 4.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5.” RJ Reynolds High School

Honorable Mention: Zyanne Valencia

Zyanne Valencia, Let’s Graze Charcuterie, Stoneware with Acrylic Cold Finish, 1” x 14” x 7.” Vista Murrieta High School

Honorable Mention: Annie Zhao

Annie Zhao, broom, Slab built, 6” x 9” x 1.5.” Idyllwild Arts Academy

Best of Show: Ollie Macpherson

Ollie Macpherson, Crocmool, Ceramic, 6” x 6” x 14.” El Toro High School

11th Grade

Honorable Mention: Kaliyah Chronister

Kaliyah Chronister, Blooming Bunny, Wall hanging & mixed media; mid fire clay; ceramic and acrylic paint, 13” x 5” x 3.” Liberty High School

Honorable Mention: Madison Heard

Madison Heard, Plenty of Fish in the Sea, Ceramic and glazes, 12” x 8” x 8.” Seabreeze High School

Honorable Mention: Cyan Yee

Cyan Yee, Shattered Suspension, Ceramics and Glaze, Slab Box, 8” x 8” x 4.5.” Carlmont High School

Best of Show: Jesse Gibson

Jesse Gibson, 6 months, 3 months, 18 months: 27 months lost, Ceramic, threads, vials, 11” x 11” x 4.” Liberty High School

12th Grade

Honorable Mention: Brandon Bodmer

Brandon Bodmer, Shelf Samurai, Ceramic, 12” x 12” x 10.” Maple Mountain High

Honorable Mention: Miriam Wheeler

Miriam Wheeler, Murphy’s Monster, Low fire clay, glaze, underglaze. Plate wheel thrown, painted with underglaze at greenware stage, bisqued to 04, glaze fired to 06, 10″ x 1″ x 1.” McKinleyville High School

Honorable Mention: Nia Zenger

Nia Zenger, surrender, Ceramic, acrylic paint, 4” x 13” x 4.” Liberty High School

Best of Show: Luxi Bassoco

Luxi Bassoco, Crystalline Serpent, Ceramic and CMW Cone 6 Crystalline glaze, 21” x 14.” Ramona High School

Honorary Awardee: Reid Gorecki

Reid Gorecki, Carrying the crew, Ceramic, glaze, 7” x 7″ x 10.5.” California School of the Arts

On May 11, 2023 Reid Gorecki tragically passed away just 3 weeks shy of graduating high school. He was a kid passionate about the power of ART in Youth Mental Health and he wanted his work out there. Since his passing I have been on that journey for him. This punky pachyderm is one from a series of pieces Reid made that were carrying other creatures on their backs.This piece holds the greatest clue to his thinking behind the work. He identified himself and most of his friends as animals of some kind in his drawings and art: bears, cats, adorable pigs, dogs, a monkey ,etc., and in this case I think he was the punk elephant, carrying his friends. He loved to gather and lift a group along with him. You can learn more about Reid and the youth mental health mission his work and I are on via his website reidgore.com or on instagram @whereisreid. – Alicia Gorecki

Exhibition Works

Works are listed in alphabetical order by last name of the artist. Photos of works are submitted by participants. Click or tap on a photo to see a larger image.

9th & 10th Grade

Ivy Bianchi

Ivy Bianchi, Desert Sunset Bowl, Ceramic with handmade stencil, 3.5” x 5” x 5.” Laguna Beach High School, 10th Grade

Karis Dolman

Karis Dolman, The Gambler, Ceramic, cone 6, acrylics, 3” x 3” x 3.” Rim of the World High School, 9th Grade

Nicole Dong

Nicole Dong, Don’t Forget Me, Ceramic, coil built, 4” x 8” x 7.” Idyllwild Arts Academy, 9th Grade

Dyllynn Egana

Dyllynn Egana, Esmerelda The Garden Snake, Ceramic and Underglaze, cone 05, 2.5” x 8.5″ x 4.5.” Cheyenne High School, 10th Grade

Quinn Evans-Agard

Quinn Evans-Agard, Teapot, Ceramic, Wheel-thrown, Glaze, cone 6, 4” x 8″ x 7.5.” The Archer School for Girls, 10th Grade

Andre Ferriera

Andre Ferreira, Family on a Shell, Ceramic, 7” x 10″ x 6.” Lake Washington High School, 10th Grade

Taylor FitzHenry

Taylor FitzHenry, Jellyfish, Ceramic, 9” x 5” x 5.” Liberty High School, 10th Grade

John (Jack) Gomez

Jack Gomez, Memories of Guam, Ceramic, glaze, cone 5, 9” x 5” and 6″ x 4.” Pasadena Polytechnic School, 10th Grade

Sylvie Haacker

Sylvie Haacker, Watchful Flowers, Hand built ceramic, Decal paper, underglaze, luster, cone 6 clear, 7.5” x 5” x 2.5.” Archer School for Girls, 10th Grade

Noa Kim

Noa Kim, Foot, Hand built ceramic, 5” x 10” x 4.5.” Idyllwild Arts Academy, 10th Grade

Evelynne Lopez

Evelynne Lopez, cherry birthday cake, Ceramic, 3” x 4” x 2.5.” East High School, 10th Grade

Ollie Macpherson

Ollie Macpherson, Crocmool, Ceramic, 6” x 6” x 14.” El Toro High School, 9th Grade

Francisco Mena Padilla

Francisco Mena Padilla, Faces of Art, Ceramic, 11.5” x 9.5” x 6.” The John Cooper School, 10th Grade

Carley Ocampo

Carley Ocampo, Misery, Ceramic, 14” x 3” x 4.” Liberty High School, 10th Grade

Mary Peterson

Mary Peterson, Circular Evergreen Planting Pot, Ceramic, 8” x 8” x 8.” Liberty High School, 10th Grade

Samantha Whitaker

Samantha Whitaker, The Cycle of a Seed, Porcelain, Cone 6, Glaze, Hands: 12” x 12” x 2”, Tree: 8” x 4” x 4”, Hand with Apple: 6” x 6” x 6.” Thaden School, 10th Grade

Kavya Singh

Kavya Singh, Abditory, Ceramic and Glaze, Cone 5, 4” x 15.5” x 5.5.” Dublin High School, 10th Grade

Wyatt Stebbins

Wyatt Stebbins, Movement in the Clay, Wheel thrown stoneware, brushed wild clay, Soda ash, cone 5/6 oxidation, 9” x 7” x 7”, 4.5” x 5” x 5”, 4.5” x 3.5” x 5.” RJ Reynolds High School, 10th Grade

Zyanne Valencia

Zyanne Valencia, Let’s Graze Charcuterie , Stoneware with Acrylic Cold Finish, 1” x 14” x 7.” Vista Murrieta High School, 10th Grade

Axel Weeks

Axel Weeks, Thought Itself , Clay and stain, 10” x 7” x 4.5.” Liberty High School, 10th Grade

Yuehan Yang

Yuehan Yang, The Iron Road Pioneer , Ceramic, 12” x 7” x 12.” RJ Reynolds High School, 9th Grade

Annie Zhao

Annie Zhao, broom , Ceramic, 6” x 9” x 1.5.” Idyllwild Arts Academy, 9th Grade

11th Grade

Katie Aitken

Katie Aitken, Dragon Face Mug, Stoneware, Glaze, 6” x 4” x 3.5.” RJ Reynolds High School

Brandon Bodmer

Brandon Bodmer, Shelf Samurai, Ceramic, 12” x 12” x 10.” Maple Mountain High School

Anto Bogo

Anto Bogo, Kitty Jar, Ceramic, underglaze, 4” x 3” x 3.” School of Arts and Enterprise

Emery Brandt

Emery Brandt, Beast of the Void, Polymer clay with wire armature, 8” x 4” x 2.” Thaden School

Alexis Chang

Alexis Chang, Blue Bounty, Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, cone 5, 1” x 6.5” x 6.5.” Arcadia High School

Alexa Childs

Alexa Childs, Deep Sea Dive, Ceramic, glaze, 4” x 11” x 4.5.” Western Christian High School

Kaliyah Chronister

Kaliyah Chronister, Blooming Bunny, Ceramic, acrylic, mixed media, 13” x 5” x 3.” Liberty High School

Leela Cohen

Leela Cohen, Harmony of Differences, Hand built coil vessel, 8” x 15” x 8.5.” Holton-Arms School

Ryan Falconi

Ryan Falconi, Urban Salt and Pepper Shakers, Cone 6 white stoneware and underglazes, 8” x 4” x 2.” Princeton Day School

Audrey Finigan

Audrey Finigan, Coral reef swimming pool, Ceramic and Underglaze, 6” x 7.5” x 5.5”, Glendora High School

Jesse Gibson

Jesse Gibson, 6 months, 3 months, 18 months: 27 months lost, Ceramic, thread, vials, 11” x 11” x 4.” Liberty High School

Miles Gumbs

Miles Gumbs, Teapot with Open Volume Spout and Handle, Brown stoneware, studio glazes, 7.25” x 7.25” x 6.75.” The Dalton School

Madison Heard

Madison Heard, Plenty of Fish in the Sea, Ceramic, glaze, 12” x 8” x 8.” Seabreeze High School

Angie Houck

Angie Houck, Retro TV Teapot, Ceramic and Glazes, 7” x 7” x 5.” Rim of the World High School

Elise Kim

Elise Kim, Spring Meadow,, Ceramic, 7.5” x 4.5” x 1.5.” The Archer School for Girls

Tien Le

Tien Le, Holiday Teapot, Ceramic, 6” x 11” x 6.” Fremont High School

Lily Knott

Lily Knott, Outside View, Seamix 6, hand-built; snow, radiant red, and jet black glazes, 8” x 10” x 6.5.” Lake Washington High School

Kelsey Lin

Kelsey Lin, Blue, Hand built B Mix clay, 15” x 8” x 2.” Flintridge Preparatory School

Alexandra Liu

Alexandra Liu, Breaking, Ceramic and underglaze, bisque and glaze fired at cone 5, 13” x 7” x 6.” Harvard-Westlake School

Olive Martin

Olive Martin, Leap of Luck, Ceramic, glaze, crushed glass, 6” x 8” x 4.” Huntington Beach High School

Noah Matsunaga

Noah Matsunaga, Assimilation, Porcelain, underglaze, raw-fired to cone 10, 10.5” x 5.25” x 2.4.” Chadwick School

Delaney McCallum

Delaney McCallum, Labor of Love, Ceramic Bisqueware, 11” x 8.5” x 7.” Also pictured: hand-sewn fabric bear (l), paper mache bear (r). Valor Christian High School

Vy Nguyen

Vy Nguyen, Piece, Pie, and Love, Ceramic, 7” x 7.5” x 7.5.” Wichita East High School

Ananya Nukala

Ananya Nukala, Deforestation Teapot, Ceramic, Underglaze and Glaze, cone 6, 8” x 7” x 5.25.” Castilleja School

Seamus Pindt

Seamus Pindt, Big Birthuhhh, Ceramic, glaze, 4” x 18” x 4.” Ontario High School

Rodolfo Ramirez

Rodolfo Ramirez, Mirror Vase, Ceramic, glaze, 7” x 4” x 2.” Mountain Range High School

Mitsuki Rosas

Mitsuki Rosas, Breath, Ceramic, 11.5” x 6” x 4.” La Salle High School

Noelenni Rubio

Noelenni Rubio, Roses and Fish Scales, Ceramic and glaze, 14” x 8” x 8.” Mountain Range High Schooll

Odessa Scott

Odessa Scott, Rhino Hybrid, Ceramic and mixed media, 5” x 6” x 11.” El Toro High School

Day Side

Day Side, Cookie’s Jar, Ceramic, acrylic, and glaze; Illustrations by Mishima, 7” x 5.5” x 5.5.” Idyllwild Arts Academy

Audrey Siples

Audrey Siples, Raku Body with Roses, Ceramic and Glaze: Cone 06; Reduction with newspaper and sawdust, 5” x 3” x 2.” Rim of the World High School

Mina Son

Mina Son, Jung, Ceramic, Acrylic Paint, Bricks, Wax, 35” x 23” x 20.” Idyllwild Arts Academy

Josslyn Toland

Josslyn Toland, Cyborg Hyena, Ceramic, mixed media, 5.5” x 5” x 12.” El Toro High School

Adzo Wilson

Adzo Wilson, Enchanted Forest Portal, Ceramic, underglaze, 18” x 8” x 8.” El Toro High School

Anthony Wilson

Anthony Wilson, Lettuce Prey: Carnivorous Vegetable, Ceramic, glaze, cone 6, 6.5” x 8” x 9.” Wichita East High School

Cyan Yee

Cyan Yee, Shattered Suspension, Ceramic, glaze, 8” x 8” x 4.5.” Carlmont High School

Yina Yoon

Yina Yoon, Butterfly Hand, Ceramic, underglaze, acrylic; folded rice paper butterfly, 10” x 3” x 3.” Dublin High School

12th Grade

Zachary Avinoam

Zachary Avinoam, Band of Porcelain Organs, Ceramic, 10″ x 10″ x 10.” Newton South High School

Luxi Bassoco

Luxi Bassoco, Crystalline Serpent, Ceramic and CMW Cone 6 crystalline glaze, 21” x 14” x 14.” Ramona High School

Sophia Bucci

Sophia Bucci, Hand Rose, Sculpted Stoneware with Wood Stain and Acrylic Paint, 14” x 7” x 5,” Chenango Valley High School

Reanna Cervantes

Reanna Cervantes, Piece of Cake!, White stoneware, low fire glazes. 4.5” x 6” x 6.” La Sierra High School

Mackenzie Cerwin

Mackenzie Cerwin, Turtle Splash, Ceramic, Glaze, and Oxide; Cone 10 and 06, 6” x 11” x 12.” La Sierra High School

Maylin Chen

Maylin Chen, Castle, Paper Clay, Underglaze, Clear plastic film, Marker, cone 6, 24” x 12” x 36.” Flintridge Preparatory School

Aylin Cielo

Aylin Cielo, Rotten to the Core, Ceramic, 2.5” x 15” x 6.” La Sierra High School

Jocelyn Contreras

Jocelyn Contreras, Bedded Teapot, Ceramic, 5” x 10” x 11.” John W. North High School

Sam Corey

Sam Corey, Untitled Instrument 1, Ceramic, 3” x 4” x 4.” Liberty High School

Jacob Coté

Jacob Coté, Workers in the Walls, Polymer clay, stop motion, mixed media, 13” x 12” x 8.5.” Bonita High School

Marley Cross

Marley Cross, Maple Leaf, Ceramic, wheel thrown, sgraffito, black matte glaze, 11” x 7.5” x 7.5.” Northridge High School

Lucy Gao

Lucy Gao, Once Someone’s Treasure, Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, cone 5, 6” x 3.5” x 2.” Arcadia High School

Olivia Gates

Olivia Gates, My Kitty, Ceramic, Acrylic paint, 6” x 3.5” x 6.5.” Liberty High School 

Clarissa Gil

Clarissa Gil, Viña Gil, Ceramic, underglaze, 11” x 3” x 3.” Arcadia High School

Medini Halepete

Medini Halepete, Star(ved)fish, Ceramic, recycled plastic, fencing, 44” x 53” x 1,5.” The Harker School 

Ashley Hernandez

Ashley Hernandez, Colossus of a Goddess, Cone 5 Clay Body,Acrylic Paint cold finish, Coil construction, Hand modeled and carved surfaces, 25” x 7” x 7.” Arroyo Valley High School

Violet Hungate

Violet Hungate, Big Hub, Ceramic, Glazes, and Acrylic Paints, 16” x 12” x 12.” Belleville East High School

Arjun Karur-Parekh

Riya Koh, My Hands, Ceramic, Glaze, 16 gauge wire, 8” x 4″ x 3.” Dublin High School

Sophia Lent

Sophia Lent, Clover the Calf, Ceramic with acrylic paint cold glaze, 10” x 6” x 11.5.” Herbert Hoover High School

Eleanor Lewis

Eleanor Lewis, Fracturing the Face, Brown stoneware, cone 6, underglaze and glaze, 3.5” x 7.5” x 7.5.” Arlington High School

Josephine Madden

Josephine Madden, Artist’s Plight, Ceramic, Air dry clay, Watercolor, 7” x 5” x 5.” Fremont High School 

Rodrigo Marquez Alonso

Rodrigo Marquez Alonso, Untitled, Ceramic and Glaze, 12” x 4” x 5.” Liberty High School

Olivia Marriner

Olivia Marriner, Sushi and Nigiri, Ceramic, slab and pinch, low-fire glazes, 2” x 4” x 2,” Laguna Beach High School

Ramona Martin

Ramona Martin, Tied Up,  Ceramic, Stain, Fishing line, 16” x 9″ x 8.” Liberty High School

Cindy Obregon-Solis

Cindy Obregon-Solis, Metamorphosis, Ceramic, Glaze, Underglaze, 5.75” x 7.625” x 3.25.” Inspired by Frédéric Martin “La Révélation”, oil on linen painting. Ontario High School 

Jordy Olivero

Jordy Olivero, Eternal Solstice, Ceramic and Glaze, 10” x 16” x 6.5.” John W. North High School

Ethan Parcells

Ethan Parcells, Krackened, Ceramic with Oxide and Glazes, 8” x 12” x 6.” Rim of the World High School

Grace Pavelski

Grace Pavelski, Deer Bust, Sculpted Terracotta with Wood Stain and Deer Antlers, 21” x 20” x 13.” Chenango Valley High School

Sarina Pretter

Sarina Pretter, The Crescent Tree, Ceramic, Glaze, Paper, Wire, Watercolor, 15” x 12” x 9.” The Ellis School

Raz De-Via Rosenthal

Raz De-Via Rosenthal, Unwanted Dream, Ceramic and Glazes, 13” x 5” x 7.” Seabreeze High School

Annabelle Reddy

Annabelle Reddy, Missing Piece, Ceramic, Cone 6, Underglaze, Clear Glaze, 7” x 8” x 2.5.” Idyllwild Arts Academy

Vanessa Salazar

Vanessa Salazar, Alebrije, Ceramic, Glaze, and Red Iron Oxide, 14” x 7” x 10.” Ramona High School

Alice Salgado de Almeida Leme

Alice Salgado de Almeida Leme, Animal Sgraffito, Ceramic, 1” x 6” x .5.” Carlmont High School

Alexandria Shugard

Alexandria Shugard, Abandoned Jack in the Box, Ceramic; Cone 06; Slab and Pinch built; Painted with Acrylics, 9” x 10” x 7.” Rim of the World High School

Sophia Straub

Sophia Straub, Lock Down, Low fire glaze, slab built, 38” x13″ x 9.5” Huntington Beach High School

Sophia Sukup

Sophia Sukup, Fangs Incense, Stoneware, glaze, acrylic paint, 7” x 8” x 8.” Trinity Preparatory School

Kentaro Suzuki

Kentaro Suzuki, Conversation of Contrast No. 1, Stoneware, glaze, oxidation fired to cone 6, 14.5” x 9” x 9.” Tabor Academy

Sophia Taylor

Sophia Taylor, Sand Dollar Platter, Ceramic and slip, 9” x 9” x 1.5.” Trinity Preparatory School

Ella von Thaden

Ella von Thaden, Enlightenment, Ceramic, underglaze, glaze, lampshade, lamp wiring kit, lightbulb, cone 6, 18” x 8.5” x 8.5.” Flintridge Preparatory School

Miriam Wheeler

Miriam Wheeler, Murphy’s Monster, Low fire clay, glaze, underglaze. Plate wheel thrown, painted with underglaze at greenware stage, bisqued to 04, glaze fired to 06, 10” x 10” x 1.” McKinleyville High School

Nia Zenger

Nia Zenger, surrender, Ceramic, Acrylic, 4” x 13” x 4.” Liberty High School