IMPERMANENCE

Valérie Bélisle is a ceramic artist and the founder of Bélisle Pottery in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Coming to clay after a career in hospitality and wine, her practice is rooted in material, process, repetition and the relationship between control and unpredictability. Her work is primarily wheel-thrown and often begins with familiar, functional forms before being altered, disrupted or pushed beyond their expected purpose. Drawing inspiration from organic growth, erosion and the natural world, she is interested in the moments where a carefully made object begins to feel alive, unstable or changed by its environment. 

Candice Boese is a potter currently working in Niagara. She makes ceramic tableware and vessels inspired by historical objects and natural forms. Her work is produced with a combination of hand-building and wheel turning techniques, creating pieces with a balance of structure and movement. 

Mark DiCarlo is a Niagara-based ceramicist who crafts both functional and decorative objects. He works primarily on the wheel, where the symmetry of thrown work and a focus on simplicity allow him to highlight the craftsmanship behind each piece. 

martina doom is a multi-disciplinary artist & muralist from Niagara. In downtown St. Catharines, Martina slowly builds and sculpts ceramics by hand. Her love of medieval imagery and the natural world inspires many of her one-of-a-kind pieces, making each creation a special piece. 

Natalee Nelson is a self-taught ceramic artist based in St. Catharines, Ontario. Working with clay since 2020, Nelson focuses on surface decoration, specializing in techniques such as Sgraffito, Mishima, and complex glaze layering. Her functional and decorative work is influenced by the changing seasons of life, a theme that evolves continuously across her small-batch collections. 

Sou Sankai was born and raised in Japan. After working as a registered nurse, Sou now studies painting and ceramics while creating artwork. This is Sou's first international group exhibition. 

Jacqueline Shaver is a multidisciplinary artist based in St. Catharines whose work brings together pottery and beadwork in a celebration of culture, connection and community.  Her family roots are from Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and her artistic journey has become deeply intertwined with reconnecting to her heritage. 

Athena Wang is a ceramic artist based in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. She is a 2025 alumna of the Ceramic Certificate program at Fleming College, where she developed a practice centered primarily on functional ware. Athena currently works out of Belisle Pottery, where she maintains her ceramic practice while also working as a studio assistant. Athena is particularly drawn to creating mugs and other vessels that invite an intimate, tactile relationship between the object and its user. She incorporates fluted and textured surfaces into many of her pieces, exploring their tactile qualities as a form of sensory engagement and comfort. For Athena, the act of holding and interacting with a textured vessel adds dimension to everyday experiences, fostering mindful connection and sensory awareness.