Since 1994, Mud Australia has created elegant and timeless porcelain homewares.
The original Mud Australia store opened in Woollahra in 2007. Since then we’ve opened 14 stores globally.
Shelley Simpson Ceramic Prize 2026
The Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize (SSCP) was established in 2020 by Mud Australia Founder and Creative Director, Shelley Simpson, to support and champion the next generation of Australian ceramicists.
Presented in partnership with Craft Victoria, the annual prize is open to ceramic artists working across functional ware, fine art, handcrafted objects and broader commercial ceramic practices. Alongside a $10,000 cash prize, shortlisted finalists will be exhibited at Craft Victoria as part of a dedicated exhibition celebrating contemporary Australian ceramics.
The visual and plastic arts are an integral part of our culture and overall social wellbeing. This sector has long been under-valued and poorly funded. I love ceramics (of course) so I’m really excited and happy to help provide a platform and financial support for our emerging ceramicists.
Mud Australia partners with Craft Victoria on the Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize 2026
Following the success of last year’s prize three-tier awards, Mud Australia is proud to continue its partnership with Craft Victoria for the 2026 Shelley Simpson Ceramics Prize.
Now in its sixth year, the annual prize is open to ceramicists across Australia, celebrating innovative, sustainable and emerging talent through a series of awards designed to support and accelerate creative practice.
This year, shortlisted finalists will once again be exhibited as part of a dedicated exhibition hosted at the Craft Victoria gallery in Melbourne, celebrating the breadth and future of contemporary Australian ceramics.
Finalists will be selected by Founder, Designer and Creative Director of Mud Australia, Shelley Simpson and Nicole Durling, Executive Director of Craft Victoria.
Discover last year’s winners and learn more about their practices via our Journal.
Previous Winners
Pictured: Alfred Lowe, 2024 SSCP Winner. Photography by Henry Trumble.
Pictured: Alfred Lowe, All dressed up for the Gathering I, 2024, hand built stoneware with sgraffito and raffia. Photo by Sam Roberts courtesy of The APY Art Centre Collective
Pictured: Cassie Hansen, 2023 SSCP Winner. Photography by Nikita Hederics.
Pictured: Cassie Hansen's winning entry.
Pictured: Shelley Simpson with SSCP 2022 winner, Phaedra Davy.
Pictured: Phaedra Davy's winning entry.
Winning the SSCP has given me a confidence boost and a sense of reassurance that I am on the right track. In winning the prize, I have been able to work with materials and purchase equipment that I previously couldn’t afford. This has allowed me to focus and refine what my work explores rather than having to worry about how to achieve a certain aesthetic without the right materials.