Founded in 2011 by Lee Gruber, the CLAY Festival celebrates and explores interpretations of clay, mud, and earth as the common ground of New Mexico's culture and history. 

Taking place every July in Silver City, New Mexico, the CLAY Festival gathers artists, collectors, educators, and families for a week-long series of events to explore clay in its many forms as well as its impact on our history, present, and future.

Each year, internationally acclaimed artists are invited to contribute to the dialogue of clay craft, host workshops, lectures, as well as jury the annual exhibition during the festival. Click here for a list of previous visiting artists and exhibitions. If you'd like to be considered as a CLAY visiting artist, please contact clay.festival@wnmu.edu 

CLAY Festival emphasizes opportunities for the community and youth to engage with clay in a program of special multi-age events. CLAY Play hosts over 200 kids between the ages of 7 and 13, and Mud Fun focuses on free-play with clay, for young people, including experience on potters' wheels.