Channel is Somerset House’s new curated online space for art, ideas and the artistic process.
The Crafts Council announces Collect will return for its 16th edition, presented for the first time at Somerset House in London.
The Crafts Council founded Collect in 2004 with the aim to build the profile and sales for collectable craft and to promote the very best galleries and artists in the field. It continues to be the only gallery-presented art fair dedicated to modern craft and design.
For 2020, Collect is moving to a striking new home at Somerset House and is excited to be taking over a large number of beautiful rooms, presenting a new environment for Collect exhibitors to contextualise and curate modern craft. Collect will occupy the large gallery wings at Somerset House, overlooking the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court.
Collect is well-positioned at the start of the international cultural calendar and presents an opportunity to discover and invest in exceptional work produced in the last five years by living artists, much of which is made especially for the Fair.
Through the years Collect has been instrumental to defining and growing the market for contemporary craft. Collect celebrates over 400 artists presented by galleries coming from across the globe to this London stage. Half of the exhibitors come from outside the UK, with an impressive spread of European galleries as well an increased range of galleries from Asia.
“The appetite for contemporary craft continues to increase as seen by the number of new galleries emerging. The Fair’s new London home, Somerset House is an exciting development in the life of Collect allowing exhibitors to contextualise and curate modern craft and design against a backdrop of 18th century architecture, high ceilings and picture windows looking out onto the Thames”. Isobel Dennis, Collect Fair Director
COLLECT 2020 HIGHLIGHTS
New
Bound by the terms of the fair, all participating galleries commit to most of their stand showing works made in the last five years. All galleries are encouraged to reveal new works for Collect and additionally returning galleries are encouraged to introduce new artists. A quarter of galleries participating in Collect 2020 do so for the first time including Norwegian-based RAM Galleri showing very distinct artists in metal, ceramic, jewellery and textiles; Galerie SCENE OUVERTE from Paris that will show furniture and objects in small editions in the manner of a New York loft apartment and the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) will celebrate their 30th anniversary with a curated display of British craft scholars.
Asia and Europe
The heritage of Collect has always had the alignment of European and Asian applied arts at its core. The 16th year is no exception welcoming new galleries: The Gallery by SOIL from Hong Kong, Gallery SP, Gallery Sklo and Lloyd Choi Gallery all from South Korea, and Han Collection, a UK gallery showing a special display of South Korean ceramics in partnership with Icheon City.
Leading Japanese expert Katie Jones Japan will continue to show objects for the connoisseur including pieces from Masters shown at the first Collect in 2004, as well as new collaboration Savoir-faire des Takumi which will showcase the results of selected artists from France and Japan making works inspired by each other’s techniques and skills.
Glass
The selection of specialist glass galleries for Collect 2020 is the best yet with renowned galleries London Glassblowing, Vessel Gallery and Bullseye Projects, North Lands Creative, Galerie Kuzebauch joined by new gallery Gallery Sklo.
Collect Open
Collect Open returns to showcase 12 ambitious craft-led installations with four artist collaborations. Installations cover a range of topics from climate change to dementia.
Collect Selected Galleries 2020 to date:
50 Golborne, UK Han Collection, UK
Bullseye Projects, USA Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections, UK
Cavaliero Finn, UK Katie Jones Japan, UK
Collection Ateliers d’Art de France, France Lloyd Choi Gallery, South Korea
Craft Scotland, UK London Glassblowing, UK
Cube Gallery, UK MADEINBRITALY, UK
Cynthia Corbett Gallery, UK maison parisienne, France
ESH Gallery, Italy North Lands Creative, UK
Flow Gallery, UK Officine Saffi, Italy
Galerie Kuzebauch, Czech Republic Oxford Ceramics Gallery, UK
Galerie Marzee, Netherlands Pi Artworks, UK
Galerie Rosemarie Jäger, Germany Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), UK
Galerie SCENE OUVERTE, France RAM Galleri, Norway
Gallery LVS & CRAFT, South Korea Savoir-faire des Takumi, Japan
Gallery SO, UK SEE..DS, UK
Gallery Sklo, South Korea The Gallery by SOIL, Hong Kong
Gallery SP, South Korea Ting-Ying, UK
Gallery WANNMUL, South Korea Vessel Gallery, UK
Goldsmiths’ Fair, UK Widell Projects, Sweden
jaggedart, UK
Collect Open 2020 artists:
Adi Toch and Edmond Byrne, UK
A fusion of metal and glass.
Lorraine Robson, UK
Ceramic Installation. Removing objects original function to create
ambiguity and intrigue.
Annette Marie Townsend, UK
Handmade wildflower sculptures, using traditional beeswax
flower making techniques.
LOT. Sarah Pulvertaft, Jed Green & Beatrice Mayfield, UK
Jewellery and embroidery. Transforming raw materials into beautifully
crafted, wearable objects.
Jacky Oliver, UK
A metalwork appreciation of ‘grow your own gardens’ in response
to the environmental challenges we are facing.
Lucie Gledhill and Kasia Woznaik, UK
Metal chain and photography installation.
Julia Griffiths Jones, UK
‘Tutto: Everything I saw in India’. Three-dimensional welded
metal, printed enamel and large-scale textiles.
Margo Selby, UK
Large scale textile installation.
Liana Pattihis and Sofia Bjorkman, UK
A vertical jewellery garden installation, 3D drawings, enamelled
chain, jewellery.
Paula Reason, UK
Embroidered silk panel installation.
Linda Bloomfield, UK
Lichen effect glazes on porcelain. Lichens indicate clean air; air
pollution causes a decrease in the diversity of lichens.
Tal Batit, Israel
‘Ethnic Synthetic’. Ceramic Carpet wall installations.
Final gallery line-up and Collect Open details will be released in the coming months.
Collect 2020 Opening times:
Wednesday 26 February:
Press view: 13:00 – 14:00 (invitation only)
Exclusive preview: 14:00 – 18:00 (invitation only)
Collectors’ preview: 18:00 – 21:00 (invitation only)
Thursday 27 February: 11:00 – 17:00
Private view from: 18:00 – 21:00 (invitation only)
Friday 28 February: 11:00 – 18:00
Saturday 29 February: 11:00 – 18:00
Sunday 1 March: 11:00 – 18:00
Tickets go on sale from Friday 1st November, 2019.
Sponsors and Partners
The Collect 2019 team is delighted to announce that Collect 2020 will see the return of previous Collect sponsor partnerships, including collaborations with:
LOEWE Foundation, Associate Supporter
The LOEWE FOUNDATION was established in 1988 to protect cultural heritage in the fields of craft, design, photography and poetry. In 2016, it launched the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize inspired by LOEWE’s beginnings as a craft cooperative in 1846.
“We are proud to be supporting Collect for the third year running, particularly in this exciting moment when craft is being re-evaluated across the world. It gives us great pleasure to see so many LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize finalists on show at the Fair and look forward to introducing our 2020 finalists,” Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director of LOEWE.
Cox London, VIP Lounge Sponsor
Cox London are designers and makers of sculptural lighting, furniture and artworks. Their thriving London atelier champions the highest quality British craftsmanship and artistry. The 2020 VIP lounge will be furnished by Cox London and curated by award-winning interior designer Rachel Chudley.
“At Cox London, we are foremost artists and makers and as such, we have an absolute affinity with Collect. From the handmade, soul-nourishing work it shows and promotes, to the extraordinary artisans it celebrates. To partner with Collect feels for us like the most natural alliance." Chris Cox Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cox London.
Details about further sponsors will be released nearer to the launch of Collect 2020.
Notes to Editors
Advisory panel
Galleries and artists are selected by experienced advisory panels.
Collect 2020 Advisory Panel:
Andrew Bonacina - Chief Curator, The Hepworth Wakefield
Rupert Faulkner - Senior Curator, Asia, Victoria and Albert Museum
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson - International jewellery historian
Jo Le Gleud - Co-Founder of Maddux Creative
Natalie Melton - Creative Director, Crafts Council
Isobel Dennis - Fair Director Collect, Crafts Council
Collect Open 2020 Advisory Panel:
Danielle Thom, Curator of Making, Museum of London
Anabelle Campbell, Head of Exhibitions & Collections, Crafts Council
Caroline Jackman and Katia Stewart, Talent Development Managers, Crafts Council
Isobel Dennis, Fair Director Collect, Crafts Council
Collect Talks and Events:
There will be a three-day programme of talks and events (Friday – Sunday) that will see leading international voices from the worlds of craft, design, art, architecture and fashion explore the evolving role of craft in all sectors of society.
About the Crafts Council:
The Crafts Council is the country's foremost authority on contemporary craft in all its forms. Founded in 1971, its role as guardian and champion of national craft practice has evolved to include exploring and enabling new possibilities, making methods and technologies. In Spring 2020 the Crafts Council will re-open its Pentonville Road premises as a new centre for craft, ahead of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021. The Crafts Council is a charity. Its work is made possible by the support of trusts and foundations, individual patrons, and corporate sponsors, and through public funding by Arts Council England.
About Somerset House:
Somerset House is London’s working arts centre and home to the UK’s largest creative community. Built on historic foundations, we are situated in the very heart of the capital.
London’s working arts centre - www.somersethouse.org.uk
www.collect2020.org.uk
#collect2020
@CraftsCouncilUK on Facebook + Twitter
@craftscouncil on Instagram
All information correct at time of printing.
For more information, interviews and visuals about Collect 2020 and the Crafts Council please contact:
Melissa Byrne: melissa.byrne@buttoncollective.com +44 (0) 7795 805 937
Sara Jensen: sara.jensen@buttoncollective.com +44 (0) 7812 339 313
Molly Gretton: molly.gretton@buttoncollective.com +44 (0) 7970 664 807