After last year’s online-only affair, Collect, the Crafts Council’s annual selling show for collectable contemporary craft, returns to Somerset House this week.
Now in its 18th year, in addition to the IRL show, you can access an online version via Artsy.net (until March 6). Click and Collect, anyone?
For the uninitiated, it’s not your typical craft fair. It’s THE fair for beautiful things made by some of the most exciting artists around, from the emerging to the iconic.
With more than 30 international galleries, all disciplines and materials are represented — from tapestry to neon, goldsmithing to lacquerware, and glass and ceramics to fibre art.
Most of the work has been made in the last five years, with many artists creating new pieces especially for the occasion. No wonder, then, that the V&A Museum is known to regularly source from Collect, making a record 13 purchases in 2020.
Alongside the main galleries, Collect Open, the fair’s platform for pioneering craft installations by emerging artists, returns with 13 projects by artists and collectives from Chile, Israel and the UK.
Plus, look out for newcomers to the event lineup, like London’s Thrown gallery (@throwncontemporary), representing new and emerging British voices in clay.
Can’t decide what to see? Scroll on for an edited digest.
@mariannehuotari
Represented by @officinesaffi, Marianne Huotari is best-known for her delicate ceramic wall rugs, which she creates at @arabiaartdepartment in Helsinki, using traditional Finnish textile techniques.
@amyjaynehughes
Catch the work of British ceramicist (and Young Masters alumni) Amy Hughes in the Cynthia Corbett Gallery.
Her ‘After Alhambra’ pieces are inspired by the large lustre vases produced during the Nasrid Dynasty - paying homage to originals but giving them a new lease of life in a contemporary colour palette of raspberry, lilac and pine.
@crystallatimer_art
Also in the Cynthia Corbett Gallery, Crystal Latimer makes her Collect debut.
Her vibrant ‘Keepsakes’ series comprises artfully arranged mandalas of vintage cowgirls, cheetahs and flora – trimmed with tassels, ofc.
@batit_studio
Israeli industrial designer and ceramicist Tal Batit returns to Collect this year as part of Collect Open, exhibiting his latest work, Buttoned: SMILE!
His ceramic smiley icons offer a burst of optimism that’s much-needed right now. Plus, the contrast between the rough matte porcelain and those smooth, shiny pins is just *chef’s kiss*
@collectartfair
This year the fair welcomes returning gallerists Bullseye Projects (USA), presenting works from emerging artist Anthony Amoako-Attah (@kente_glass)
The Sunderland-based artist replicates the kente fabrics from his native Ghana in a series of printed glass sculptures, which glisten like glass but flow like fabric.
Short-listed for The Brookfield Properties Craft Award this year, he’s certainly one to watch.
