Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize 2025

Craft is delighted to announce our partnership with Mud Australia to present this year's Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize. Now in its fifth year, the prize is open to all Australian ceramicists and awards innovative, sustainable and emerging talent with a $10,000 fund to support and accelerate their practice.

This year, for the first time, the selected finalists are celebrated in a four-week exhibition in Craft's Atrium gallery space.

The SSCP was established in 2020 by Shelley Simpson – Mud Australia’s Founder and Creative Director – and continues to recognise and support emerging and early-career ceramicists working across the spectrum of contemporary practice.

Craft is pleased to collaborate with Mud Australia in the selection process and for the first ever public exhibition of the finalists, who were selected by Shelley Simpson and Nicole Durling, Executive Director of Craft.

Previous recipients include Alfred Lowe, Cassie Hansen, Phaedra Davy and Isobel Carver.

Since 1994, Mud Australia has designed and hand-crafted elegant and timeless porcelain homewares. Founded and designed by Shelley Simpson, their collection, available in 19 shades, is as much about self-expression as it is about functionality. Mud Australia is 100% handmade and is a proudly climate neutral business.

Congratulations to the SSCP 2025 Finalists:

Csongvay Blackwood
Lorraine Dean – Winner of the 2025 SSCP
Em Frank – Honourable Mention
Raphael Karanikos
Chrystie Longworth
Amelia Lynch
Gabriela Mello
Issy Parker
Nani Puspasari – Honourable Mention
David Ray
Keiko Sato
Steph Wallace – Second Prize

We’re thrilled to announce Lorraine Dean as the winner of the 2025 Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize.

In wonderful news, we’re delighted to share that Shelley has decided to award three additional prizes: Second Prize is awarded to Steph Wallace; with Honourable Mentions to Nani Puspasari and Em Frank.

Thank you to all the applicants for the SSCP 2025, and congratulations to all the finalists.