Press Release – Immediate
Date
29 November 2016
OVER THIRTY LEADING INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES ANNOUNCED FOR COLLECT 2017
Collect, one of Europe’s leading fair for international contemporary craft held at the Saatchi Gallery in
February 2017
November 2016, London – Collect, the leading international art fair for contemporary objects, has
announced its selection of over 30 prominent galleries from across Europe, Asia and North America, that
will come together to exhibit exceptional museum-quality contemporary craft by artists and makers at the
Saatchi Gallery from 2 – 6 February 2017.
Galleries representing a variety of disciplines, including ceramics, glass, art jewellery, silversmithing and
metal, textiles, bookbinding, wood and furniture, have been selected by a panel of experts including
designer and maker, Tord Boontje; Keeper of European Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics, and Glass at the
V&A Museum, Dr Antonia Boström; designer, Peter Ting; gallery owner, Sarah Myerscough; and Annie
Warburton, Creative Director of the Crafts Council. Together, they have selected 25 returning galleries, as
well as ten new galleries to represent contemporary craft and design and to showcase unique collectable
contemporary objects for the 13th edition of Collect.
New galleries for 2017 include: Bruntnell-Astley Ltd Contemporary Glass Gallery (UK), Designer Bookbinders
(UK), Galerie Michel Giraud (France), GENDRAS REGNIER (France), Køppe Contemporary Objects (Denmark),
MADEINBRITALY (UK), Maison Parisienne (France), Sokyo Gallery (Japan) and Thalen & Thalen (Belgium).
Over 30 galleries from the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the
Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, and the USA will represent the works of hundreds of artists.
Annie Warburton, Creative Director of the Crafts Council commented, “Known for presenting the most
dynamic contemporary work from across the globe, Collect has led the transformation of perceptions of
what craft is and can be. Returning in 2017, the fair goes a step further. Alongside welcoming thirty-five of
the world’s leading galleries, including ten new exhibitors from three continents, this year we introduce a
new element showcasing experimental new work. Alongside their main stand, six selected exhibitors will
present ambitious, experimental installations by makers and artists pushing forward practice in ceramics,
textiles, furniture and metal. Challenging and beguiling, Collect Spotlights are just one element in marking a
fresh new direction for Collect in 2017.”
Køppe Contemporary Objects (Denmark) is a gallery and presentation platform for sculptural objects at
the intersection of art, design and craft. Founded by architect Bettina Køppe who has extensive experience
as a gallery-owner and curator in the field of design objects. The gallery will present a powerful body of
work entitled ‘Meta-Domestic Objects’ - a study around the concept of function. The exhibition will present
showpieces which are handmade, self-reflective, non-functional objects but are exhibited as ‘everyday
objects, bringing an element of the surreal’.
Galerie Michel Giraud (France) is known for its commitment to the Art Deco movement. For Collect 2017,
the gallery will exhibit a solo show of work by Hervé Wahlen who is a major coppersmith creating unique
pieces. The majority of Wahlen’s work is now part of major collections worldwide.
A mainstay of Collect is the powerful combination of European and Asian works. ARTCOURT Gallery (Japan)
is returning for the second time with a broad selection of leading Japanese artists. ARTCOURT presents
conceptual and fine art conceived from Japan’s unique craft approach, such as Yo Akiyama (ceramic) and
Shihoko Fukumoto (textiles). Their showcase for 2017 will include urushi (traditional Japanese lacquer)
artist, Genta Ishizuka.
For the first time Collect welcomes Sokyo Gallery (Japan) with an array of contemporary ceramics based on
the Mingei (Folk Crafts) movement spearheaded by the philosopher Sōetsu Yanagi in 1920s and inspired by
the Arts and Crafts Movement in Britain and Europe. Osamu Kojima will show sculptures of ‘Modern
Natural Landscapes’ which include firings using found roof tiles – a direct reference to his interest in the
history of materials.
Katie Jones (UK/ Japan) has been an exhibitor at Collect since the inaugural fair in 2004 and is a leading
specialist in Japanese applied artists based in the UK. She will bring a treasure trove of smaller works
sourced from her regular trips to Japan.
Korea Craft Design Foundation (South Korea) will be presenting twelve artists selected under the theme of
minimalism. Korean art and craft has always been appreciated for its seemingly minimalist approach and
skills such as patience, precision and anticipation are used to produce true yet subtle beauty. This belies an
engagement with traditional practice rooted in the rich heritage of Korean craft.
Art Jewellery has been a key market for Collect and 2017 sees another fantastic contribution from Galerie
Marzee (The Netherlands), the largest gallery for modern art jewellery in the world. An essential mainstay
of Collect, Marzee will bring an array of new and original art jewellery to the fair – representing their
commitment to presenting museum-quality work by established artists and showcasing new talent.
Collect 2017 welcomes back a key British contribution to the contemporary craft scene, The Scottish
Gallery (UK), a fine art gallery that represents a diverse and leading programme of contemporary craft. A
special ‘capsule’ will be shown at Collect from UK jewellery greats David Watkins and Wendy Ramshaw,
CBE, RDI.
Galleri Format Oslo (Norway) will represent a variety of work in differing techniques and forms, but the
focus will be on the expression of contemporary crafts in Norway, including jewellery, metals, textiles, glass
and ceramics. Work by some of Norway’s most established ceramic artists such as Nina Malterud and Heidi
Bjørgan will be on show as well as young emerging talents like include Aron Li, who creates sculptural
objects in metal.
COLLECT SPOTLIGHTS
New for 2017 are Collect Spotlights, whereby a number of galleries have been selected to exhibit
experimental work displayed in innovative ways that seek to challenge, excite, and create discussion with
visitors to the fair.
The following galleries have been selected for the inaugural Collect Spotlights:
Recent RCA graduate Katie Spragg will show an immersive work which evokes the feeling of daydreaming in
a field. This Spotlight will include an installation including film and porcelain where the viewer is invited to
lie back and escape.
Maison Parisienne, France
A presentation of works rarely seen in the UK by the established textile sculptor, Simone Pheulpin. With the
immediate impression of porcelain or wood, these sculptures are created by a unique technique of folded
cotton held together with a matrix of tiny pins.
Contemporary Applied Arts have asked celebrated British silversmith Adi Toch to develop a radical new
body of interactive silver vessels. An antedote to the traditional quiet reflection of a gallery environment
these silver works will react to tones of voice around them. Toch is collaborating with sound engineers to
create a subtle and sensitive interaction.
Contemporary Applied Arts & Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections, UK
Contemporary Applied Arts and Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections are collaborating to present a
‘Forest’ of Rita Parniczky hanging textiles. This forest references the sliding doors of traditional domestic
Japan whilst encompassing traditional techniques (the Leclerc loom) and the cutting-edge (nylon
monofilament instead of silk) in these architectural textiles.
Renowned British artists makers David Gates (furniture) and Helen Carnac (metal) are collaborating on a
new significant body of work: wooden structures with vitreous enamel detailing. Both artists makers have a
different take on the manmade landscape - the ‘macro’ (David’s reference of industrial and agricultural
architecture) and ‘micro’ (Helen references details on surfaces such as rust or codes on the side of cargo
ships).
WCC-BF, Belgium
Safia Hijos’ Installation: "Play it again and again" (stoneware discs, smoke firing and sounds on a scratched
record). This archaeoacoustic installation of ceramic and sound is derived from the artist’s interest in
history and the concept that the voices of the ancient Greek potters of Athens could be inscribed on their
pots.
With over 30 galleries showcasing their work in February, including work from ten new galleries, the 2017
edition of Collect promises to provide the biggest and most important fair for international contemporary
craft. For tickets visit www.collect17.org.uk.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Full List of Galleries Selected for Collect 2017
ARTCOURT Gallery (Japan); Bishopsland Educational Trust (UK); Bruntnell-Astley Ltd Contemporary Glass
Gallery (UK); Bullseye Projects (USA); Collection Ateliers D'Art De France (France); Contemporary Applied
Arts (UK); Cynthia Corbett Gallery (UK); Designer Bookbinders (UK); Exhibition Space APJ (Japan); Flow
Gallery (UK); Galerie Marzee (Netherlands); Galerie Michel Giraud (France); Galerie Rosemarie Jäger
(Germany); Galleri Format Oslo (Norway); Gallery S O (UK); Galerie Gendras Regnier (France); Jaggedart
(UK); Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (UAE), Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections (UK); Katie Jones (UK);
Køppe Contemporary Objects (Denmark); Korea Craft Design Foundation (Korea); London Glassblowing
Gallery (UK); MADEINBRITALY (UK); Maison Parisienne (France); Officine Saffi (Italy); Petronilla Silver (UK);
Ruthin Craft Centre (UK); Sarah Myerscough Gallery (UK); Sokyo Gallery (Japan); Thalen & Thalen (Belgium);
The Scottish Gallery (UK); Vessel Gallery (UK); WCC-BF Gallery (Belgium); and Widell Projects (Sweden)
PRESS ENQUIRIES
For further information, interviews and images, please contact:
Tomorrow PR
Pia Malling Cappuccini or Amy Dollamore
pia@tomorrowpr.co.uk | amy@tomorrowpr.co.uk
+ 44 (0) 207 249 7409
For general enquires please contact collect@craftscouncil.org.uk or +44 (0) 207 806 2500.
About Collect
Collect is the leading international art fair for contemporary objects, presented by the Crafts Council.
From 2- 6 February it provides a unique opportunity to see and buy museum-quality works by leading craft
masters. With exciting new features, Collect showcases the finest examples of contemporary craft
presented by galleries from around the world and is supported by a dynamic programme of talks and
events. Experience Collect - you will be astonished by what craft is and can be.
Award-winning architects Mowat and Company have re-imagined the layout of Collect, introducing exciting
new feature areas and improving the journey around the fair. Esteemed graphic design studio Spin has
produced a new brand and identity.
About the Crafts Council
Founded in 1971 and incorporated by Royal Charter, the Crafts Council is Britain’s national agency for
contemporary craft. Through exhibitions, publications, education programmes, and curating the national
Collection, we champion the UK’s foremost makers and present contemporary craft in new ways,
challenging perceptions of what craft is and can be. 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.
Image captions
Insert Image 1 (left): Indigo Rose by Kimiaki Kageyama, Duckie by David Clarke, Infinite Grey Bracelets by Marc Monzo,
all represented by Gallery S O. Photography by Angela Moore, styling by Despina Curtis.
Insert Image 2 (right): 10 Beech B16 by Marc Ricourt, 114 Fluted Vessel by Liam Flynn, represented by Sarah
Myerscough Gallery. Photography by Angela Moore, styling by Despina Curtis.