What I’m Looking for as Curator
Looking Closely — A series on handmade ceramics
This article is part of Looking Closely, an ongoing series exploring handmade ceramics through the eyes of an artist, curator, collector, and maker.
Over the past several months, people have asked me what I’m looking for as curator of the 2026 Muskegon Museum of Art Cups Invitational. It’s a fair question, but not an easy one to answer.
There isn’t one “right” cup.
I’m not looking for one style, one firing process, or one aesthetic. Functional, sculptural, atmospheric, colorful, quiet—all have a place. What interests me is work that feels authentic to the artist who made it.
A cup is one of the most familiar objects we use every day. It warms our hands on a cold morning, cools us with an iced drink in the summer, holds soup on a rainy afternoon, or even a scoop of ice cream shared with a friend. Because we know cups so well, they are surprisingly difficult to make well.
When I first see a cup, I don’t begin by analyzing it. I simply notice my first reaction. Am I drawn to it? Does something make me pause? It might be the silhouette, the surface, the handle, a small detail, or a quiet confidence in the form. Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why one cup asks me to look more closely than another—but I pay attention to that feeling.
If I want to pick it up, the conversation with the cup begins.
How does it feel in my hands? Is the weight what I expected? Does it invite me to turn it over and discover something new?
Then I begin noticing the decisions the maker has made. Does the surface support the form, or compete with it? Does the handle feel like it belongs, growing naturally from the cup, or was the maker intentionally emphasizing that it was attached? Both approaches can be successful if they are handled with confidence.
I almost always notice the rim. It is the one place where the maker and the user meet. Does it feel comfortable against my lips? Does it encourage me to drink from it?
Then I turn the cup over. Does it have a foot? Does it need one? How does it sit on the table? Has the maker resolved the form from every angle, including the one we rarely see?
Sometimes I set a cup down and come back to it later. A piece that didn’t immediately capture my attention may quietly grow on me. Other times, a cup that made a strong first impression loses some of its appeal the longer I look. Living with a piece—even for a short time—is part of understanding it. Some cups ask for your attention immediately. Others reveal themselves more slowly. I’ve learned not to dismiss either too quickly. There are pieces I’ve admired at first glance that gradually became less interesting, and others that quietly stayed with me long after I walked away. I pay attention to that.
Ultimately, I’m not searching for perfection. I’m looking for cups that reveal thoughtful decisions, sound craftsmanship, and an authentic artistic voice. I want to see work that feels intentional—work that reflects the maker’s own way of seeing the world.
My hope is that this year’s exhibition introduces museum visitors to the remarkable ceramic work being created throughout Michigan and the United States today. I look forward to discovering the many ways artists continue to reinterpret this familiar form.
Applications for the 2026 Muskegon Museum of Art Cups Invitational are open through July 20, 2026. I hope you’ll consider applying. Applications are submitted through CaFÉ, and complete exhibition information can be found here:
https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17608/CAFE
