After the Spode factory in Stoke-on-Trent closed its doors in 2008, artist Neil Brownsword scavenged its scrap heaps and found piles of discarded pottery. Seven years on, some of it is back inside the factory, this time on the walls, as part of the British Ceramics Biennial.
Brownsword’s mission, ‘to celebrate skilled artisans from ceramic flower makers to copper engravers to china painters, and expose the tricks of the trade to future generations’, is shared by the Biennial director Barney Hare Duke. Now in its fourth year, the exhibition has a future facing, artistic bent, rather than a nostalgic one. ‘It would be a folly to think that Stoke could go back to what it was in its heyday,' says Hare Duke (at the start of the 20th century, around 20,000 people were employed in the potteries, today it’s 7000). ‘We need to look forward.'
To this end, the 'Fresh' section focuses on the work of 22 recent graduates, among them Korean Jongjin Park who explores ceramics and their ability to imitate other materials such as wood and paper; while 'Awards,' the centre piece show, features 12 rising stars. Among them are James Rigler, whose eight pillars are inspired by an image of Le Corbusier at the ruins of Olympia and Amy Hughes, who has just completed a residency at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Linking the sections are interactive installations, such Matthew Rowe’s bar, christened the 'Shifting Spirit' and Lawrence Epps’ two-penny slot machine that uses clay, rather than real, coins.
For the duration of the biennial, Spode’s famous kiln has been rekindled and sculptor Bruce McLean has been working on site, making hand painted tiles and a limited run of 100 bowls (for £750 each). Plans are afoot to reignite the studio permanently and to turn a nearby derelict building into an artist's residence.
The biennial’s hub is Spode, but the whole city is involved. At Airspace gallery, Ian McIntyre (whose ceramics are sold at design stores Hay and Another Country) exhibits his work on the 'Brown Betty'. Invented in Stoke in 1690, the Betty was the most manufactured teapot in history but several modifications have weakened its original, superior design. McIntyre is on board to take it back to its former glory.
Biennial director Barney Hare Duke shared the programme’s mission ‘to celebrate skilled artisans from ceramic flower makers to copper engravers to china painters, and expose the tricks of the trade to future generations’. Pictured: Untitled, by Aneta Rege, 2015.
In the ’Fresh’ area of the show, which focuses on 22 graduates, Korean Jongjin Park’s work stood out with his exploration of ceramics’ ability to imitate other materials such as wood and paper. Pictured: Artistic Stratum No.2, by Jongjin Park
At Airspace gallery, Ian McIntyre (whose ceramics are sold at design stores Hay and Another Country) exhibits his work on the ’Brown Betty’ teapot
Invented in Stoke in 1690, the Betty was the most manufactured teapot in history but several modifications have weakened its original, superior design
McIntyre is on board to take the teapot back to its former glory
On show in the ’Awards’ area of the exhibition, featuring 12 rising stars, James Rigler’s eight pillars were inspired by an image of Le Corbusier at the ruins of Olympia
Another rising talent on show was Amy Hughes, who has just completed a residency at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Pictured left: Black Lidded vases, from the ’Tresor Decouvert’ series, 2014. Right: Earthstone Vase, 2014.
More work by Jongjin Park. Pictured left: Definitely Ceramics No.3, 2014. Right: Definitely Ceramics B&W, 2014
Pictured left: The Salient Dead, by Rhiannon Lewando, 2015. Right: work by Mella Shaw from the ’Awards’ section
Imagination Dead Imagine, by Sam Bakewell, 2009–2015.
Pictured left: Resonate, by Stephen Dixon, 2015. Right: Within, Without, by Alexandra Simpson, 2015
INFORMATION
British Ceramics Biennial is on show in Stoke-on-Trent until 8 November
-
Wild sauna, anyone? The ultimate guide to exploring deep heat in the UK outdoors‘Wild Sauna’, a new book exploring the finest outdoor establishments for the ultimate deep-heat experience in the UK, has hit the shelves; we find out more about the growing trend
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 showsThe Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to knowDesigning the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formedIn the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of designPearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experimentsMushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal OfficeLondon Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, ShoreditchLondon Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makersLondon Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design FestivalLondon Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
-
London Design Medals 2022London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
