PROVIDENCE, RI.- The RISD Museum is presenting A Shared Journey: The Barkan Contemporary Ceramic Collection, a landmark exhibition featuring more than 100 works, 52 of which are being given to the museum by Hope and Mel Barkan, the most significant gift of contemporary ceramics in the museum’s history. The exhibition spans two galleries: the Ceramics Gallery opened on September 13, 2025, with the larger part now on view in the Farago Gallery. Both galleries will be on view until April 5, 2026; and the Ceramics Gallery installation will remain on view until March 5, 2028.

The exhibition celebrates the vision of Hope and Mel Barkan, whose collection spans decades of ceramic art from the 1960s to the 2010s. Featuring over 100 works and nearly 90 artists, A Shared Journey highlights the versatility of clay as a medium for artistic expression, encompassing both intricate works to bold, sculptural innovations. Many of the artists represented are or were leading art educators, underscoring the museum’s mission to make art accessible and inspiring for learners of all ages.

Elizabeth A. Williams, David and Peggy Rockefeller Curator of Decorative Arts and Design and the exhibition curator, notes, “The Barkan Collection exemplifies the museum’s commitment to supporting creative exploration, broadening the stories told through our holdings, and fostering meaningful connections between artists, students, and the community. Visitors can experience not only the extraordinary technical achievements of these ceramic artists but also the ongoing dialogue between teaching, collecting, and artistic innovation.”

Tsugumi Maki, director of the RISD Museum, adds, “A Shared Journey demonstrates the museum’s dedication to engaging audiences in the creative process and providing access to artworks that inspire curiosity and artistic growth. The Barkans’ gift strengthens the museum as a space where creativity thrives, diverse voices are celebrated, and our collection continues to evolve in dialogue with contemporary practices.”

Hope and Mel Barkan reflect, “We have long valued the RISD Museum as both a teaching and collecting institution. It is our hope that these works will inspire students and visitors alike, and that our gift contributes to the museum’s role as a place of creativity, learning, and connection for generations to come.”

A fully illustrated publication accompanies the exhibition. It includes essays by Elizabeth A. Williams; Ezra Shales, Professor of History of Art at Massachusetts College of Art and Design; and Annabeth Rosen, a visual artist and ceramic sculptor, Distinguished Professor of Art, and the Robert Arneson Endowed Chair in Ceramic Sculpture at the University of California, Davis. Together, these contributions provide curatorial, scholarly, and artistic perspectives on the Barkans’ collection and the evolution of contemporary ceramics from the 1960s to today.