The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery announced the 2012 winners of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics and the RBC Award for glass this month.

The Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics went to sculptor Eliza Au from Richmond, BC. Au’s work is based on polygon forms and repetition. She creates beautiful pieces that are inspiring in their intricacy and enormity. Au graduated with an MFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2009. As the winner of the Shantz Award she will receive a CAD/CAM artist-in-residency at the sundaymorning@ekwe in the Netherlands.

Benjamin Kikkert won the 2012 RBC Award for Glass. The Toronto based artists is a resident of the Harbourfront Center. He photographs his pieces in the same environment that influenced their creation. In his Maritime series, barnacles encrust transparent glass forms. Kikkert graduated from the Crafts and Design Glass Program at Sheridan College. As the winner of this prestigious RBC Award, Kikkert will receive $10,000.

Both Kikkert and Au were presented their awards on October, 11 at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. The runner- up awards go to glass artist Carole Epp and Dominique Beaupré St-Pierre.