In conjunction with the International Ceramic Art Fair (ICAF), the Gardiner Museum is pleased to host the ICAF 2026 Symposium, supported by the Raphael Yu Centre for Canadian Ceramics.

The symposium emerges out of the theme "urban space, shelter, and the commons" and features a roster of local and international speakers, fostering a deeper appreciation for Canadian ceramics within a larger artistic ecosystem.

Keynote speaker Ronald Rael will present his concept of “AI³” (Artificial, Ancestral, and Additive Intelligence), exploring how emerging technologies and traditional practices can work together to reimagine architecture and the built environment.

Your symposium ticket includes lunch and refreshments on May 30.

Confirmed Speakers

Adam Williams, Anders Herwald Ruhwald, Antonia Behan, Christine Howard Sandoval, Dana Prieto, Eve Tagny, Franchesca Hebert-Spence, Hadi Jamali, Jolie Ngo, Linda Zhang, Lisa Myers, Midori Mukai, Misbah Ahmed, Nehal El-Hadi, Rajni Perera, Ronald Rael, ROSEMARY Gallery, Sequoia Miller, Tanis Worme

Symposium Schedule

Friday May 29, 6 – 8 pm  Keynote Presentation by Ronald Rael

Ronald Rael is a designer, activist, trained architect, author, and Eva Li Memorial Chair in Architecture at the University of California Berkeley. His research interests connect Indigenous and traditional material practices to contemporary technologies and issues, and he is a design activist, author, and thought leader within the topics of additive manufacturing, borderwall studies, and earthen architecture.

Saturday May 30, 9:30 am – 6 pm

A full day symposium featuring speakers, panel discussions, and more. Lunch and refreshments are also included.

General $75
Gardiner Friends $63
Students $50

Includes lunch and refreshments on May 30.

Programming Partner