As the world’s first international art fair dedicated exclusively to ceramic art, this event celebrates the medium’s multifaceted nature, emphasizing its timelessness and versatility as a canvas for diverse artistic expressions.
IP and Press Preview: January 22, 2025 | 3 PM – 10 PM (by invitation only)
On View: January 23 – 26, 2025
December 10, 2024 (Brussels, Belgium) – Building on the success of its inaugural edition, ceramic brussels 2025 will return to the Tour & Taxis exhibition center in Brussels from January 23–26, 2025. This highly anticipated second edition will showcase 65 galleries from 15 countries, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the work of over 200 artists. As the only event of its scale dedicated solely to ceramics, it captures the current landscape and showcases how the medium is continuously reimagined across borders and time periods. In this way, ceramic brussels 2025 promises an in-depth journey into this ancient yet ever-evolving art form, standing as a testament to ceramics' resilience, adaptability, and cultural significance.
Amidst its broad exploration of the ceramics world, this year's edition stands out in particular for its ability to spotlight notable regional legacies and the visionary contributions of individual trailblazers. In this regard, the ‘Norway focus’ will debut as the fair’s first country-specific event, celebrating Norway’s vibrant ceramic scene by uniting Norwegian galleries, artists, institutions, and key figures to showcase their work and inspire a transnational dialogue on ceramics. Shifting to the individual level, the 2025 Guest of Honor, Elizabeth Jaeger, will present a solo exhibition, offering an intimate look at her distinctive artistic approach. While these two special features receive notable attention, the fair remains committed to revealing new European talents, with the prestigious ceramic brussels Art Prize and several other honors highlighting a wide range of diverse and innovative voices. Additionally, with a 20% increase in new arrivals compared to 2024, the fair presents an exceptionally diverse selection, showcasing both group exhibitions and individual highlights, including solo shows from 20 out of 65 galleries, alongside a notable presence of international participants.
The fair offers a truly global experience, featuring Belgian, French, and neighboring European galleries alongside international representation from North America and Asia. In addition to this international array, many of the galleries represent artists from various countries, showcasing both emerging talents and established names in their group and solo exhibitions. This makes the fair a true reflection of the diversity and breadth of artists within the ceramic medium.
The French Almine Rech Gallery showcases a vibrant group show featuring a compelling selection of artists, including Thu Van Tran, Jean-Baptiste Bernadet, Oliver Beer, Nobuhito Nishigawara, Gordon Cheung, and Eric Croes. The American galleries Hostler Burrows and HB381 Gallery collaborate on a joint exhibition, presenting works by Maren Kloppmann, Marianne Huotari, Sigve Knutson, Sakari Kannosto, Caroline Slotte, Marit Tingleff, and Marianne Nielsen. The contemporary section of the fair also features notable solo shows, such as French Galerie Capazza's presentation of Claude Champy and the Belgian gallery Sorry We're Closed's showcase of Jun Kaneko.
Expanding on its thematic scope from last year, the second edition of ceramic brussels weaves past and present by introducing a dedicated section focusing on galleries representing 20th-century modern ceramics. This addition offers a nuanced perspective on the current ceramic scene, fostering a dialogue between contemporary ceramics and the iconic works that have shaped the medium over the past century and continue to influence ceramic artists to this day. Above all, this section also reflects the ongoing market interest in modern ceramics, emphasizing its pivotal role in the field's growing relevance. First introduced in 2024 with the single participation of Galerie Michel Giraud (FR), this year’s expanded focus on modern ceramics presents a significant number of old masters, represented by a diverse range of galleries. Notable among them is French gallery Thomas Fritsch – ARTRIUM, which presents a group show featuring celebrated artists such as André Borderie, Pol Chambost, Georges Jouve, Suzanne Ramie, Jacques & Dani Ruelland, Vera Szekely, and Gilbert Valentin. Belgian gallery Lancz Gallery contributes with a remarkable group show, highlighting works by Arthur Craco, Jan Cobbaert, Alfred William Finch, Roger Somville, and Omer Coppens. The Hungarian acb Galéria joins in with a powerful collection, featuring works by Lajos Csertő and Judit Vida. Additionally, the solo show from French gallery Hélène Bailly presents a rare opportunity to view the works of Pablo Picasso, adding a resonant name to this selection of iconic 20th-century masters.
A special focus on Norway
Adding another layer to its expanding international scope, ceramic brussels 2025 will spotlight Norway's influential ceramic art scene with a dedicated ‘Norway Focus’ and a special program of talks, ‘Norwegian Day’, on January 24, 2025. This special focus emphasizes the importance of national art scenes as sources of inspiration and models of best practices, underscoring their critical role in shaping the global landscape of contemporary arts and crafts. In collaboration with Norwegian Crafts, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the international visibility of contemporary Norwegian craftsmanship, the fair invites the global ceramic community to explore a national context where ceramics continue to innovate and thrive. Showcasing the work of five leading galleries such as Format, QB Gallery, RAM Galleri, Kiosken, and Skog Art Space, visitors will be introduced to both established and emerging Norwegian artists of the field. With a delegation of key figures from Norway's ceramics industry participating in meetings and panel discussions, this initiative goes beyond showcasing exemplary Norwegian ceramics. It creates a dynamic platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices, fostering deeper dialogue through cross-cultural collaboration.
A Guest of Honor Embodying Innovation
In line with its dedication to highlighting the most innovative and influential voices in contemporary ceramics, ceramic brussels proudly announces Elizabeth Jaeger as this edition’s Guest of Honour, with her work represented by the renowned Mennour gallery in Paris. Praised by Jean-Marc Dimanche, co-director of ceramic brussels, as a highly innovative artist among a new generation of ceramic creatives, Jaeger is celebrated for transforming the medium into a powerful emotional dialogue, demonstrating that ceramics is not merely a visual art form but also a profound channel for emotional engagement. Through her poetic yet dissonant sculptures, she explores memento mori, blending personal narratives with hand-crafted depictions of everyday objects and figurative forms. Her work encourages viewers to engage with ceramics on a deeply introspective level, provoking emotional and existential reflections.
Awarding New Voices in Contemporary Ceramics
ceramic brussels is not only an exhibition space and marketplace for top-tier ceramics but also a vital platform for emerging talent, with the ceramic brussels Art Prize spotlighting new voices in the medium. This prize supports Europe-based ceramic artists without gallery representation, offering a contrast to the established artists showcased at the fair. Open to artists with fewer than 10 years of experience, it provides exposure and opportunities to those who might otherwise have limited access to the art world. With over 350 applications in 2024, the prize highlighted the growing interest in ceramics and reaffirmed the fair’s commitment to fostering fresh perspectives in the field.
The prize will recognize 10 laureates, selected by an esteemed international jury, with their works featured in a group exhibition next year. This follows this year’s showcase of last year’s winners, curated by Jean-Marc Dimanche. In addition, the selected artists will be included in a special publication initiated by the fair. From this group, one artist will receive the prestigious Jury Prize, which includes a solo exhibition, shedding an honorary spotlight on their artistic vision. This year, Damien Fragnon, the recipient of the 2024 Jury Prize, will present his work in a dedicated solo exhibition. Additional prizes from local and international institutions will also be awarded to other laureates, further amplifying their recognition and opportunities.
A Fair for Thought
Through a program of conferences and debates, ceramic brussels serves as a platform for intellectual engagement, inviting visitors to explore the world of ceramics through dialogue and discovery. In 2025, this initiative will address pivotal issues in the field, including challenges ceramics face in European museums, their integration into mixed-media practices, the impact of 3D technology, and their role in public spaces. By fostering synergy among artists, galleries, collectors, and institutions, these sessions aim to promote collaboration, highlight emerging trends, and inspire meaningful discussions, enriching understanding and advancing the global conversation on contemporary ceramics.
NOTES TO EDITORS
ceramics brussels will be on display from January 23 – 26 at Tour & Taxis exhibition center in Brussels, Belgium.
VIP & Press Preview
January 22, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM (by invitation only)
Fair Days
January 23 – 26, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
About ceramic brussels:
ceramic brussels brings together more than 60 galleries, institutions, and key players in ceramics, in a unique scenography, in the heart of Europe. For this 2025 edition, the fair opens its doors to modern ceramics, welcomes the participation of renowned institutions, and emphasizes its international scope. As such, a special focus on Norway highlights its vitality and the rich and innovative ceramic art scene.
Image Credits:
1. ‘Hks’ by Eirik Falckner. Courtesy of Kiosken Gallery.
2. ‘Orange Dripping’ by Andres Anza, 2023. Courtesy of Galleria Anna Marra.
3. Gordon Cheung, 2024. Courtesy of Almine Rech.
4. ‘PP2’ by Eyvind Solli Andreassen, 2021. Photography by Thomas Tveter. Courtesy of Format.
5. ‘Untitled’ by Jun Kaneko. Courtesy of Sorry We’re Closed.
6. Daphne de Gheldere, Presented by SPAX Projects. Courtesy of the artist.
7. ‘From the series Genealogy / on adjusting’ by Monika Patuszynska, 2019. Courtesy of Galerie Christine Colon.