Kiln God Exhibition - Pot House Gallery Group Show

The Kiln Gods are coming to Tauranga. 

We invited potters and ceramists to create their own guardian figures to watch over our brand-new tabletop kiln. The response? Incredible.  Now you can see them all at The Pot House – and take home one of your very own.

For centuries, kiln gods have been placed near fires to protect the firing process and bring good fortune. In China and Hong Kong, Yao Shen is enshrined in temples near kilns, where potters pray, burn incense, and leave offerings. In ancient Greece, Athena herself was called upon to oversee successful firings, while mischievous kiln demons were said to punish poorly fired wares. 

In Western studios today, potters often handcraft their own playful or personal guardians from leftover clay, placing them on or near the kiln as symbols of hope, superstition, and skill.

Now, these timeless protectors are ready to find new homes. Whether you place one by your fireplace, beside the heat pump, or somewhere it can quietly watch over your whānau, a kiln god brings a little warmth and a lot of character.

Sponsored by Gate Pa New World This exhibition launch preview is Friday, 25 September - 5.30pm at The Incubator Creative Hub, The Historic Village, 17th Ave, Tauranga.  Licensed Bar onsite, and everyone is welcome. 

On display at The Pot House Gallery from the 26 September to the 17 October 10am to 3pm