British Ceramics Biennial announces 25 artists for Novel 2021

Rising stars of the ceramic world selected for Novel at the British British ceramics Biennial.

Twenty-five early career ceramic artists hold been selected for Novel, one of the flagship exhibitions of the British British ceramics Biennial competition, which takes squawk in Stoke-on-Trent from 11 September to 17 October.  

From YouTube tutorials and community workshops to stage programmes and apprenticeships, Novel 2021 celebrates the prosperous and numerous studying alternatives which will be shaping British ceramics this day.  

 Novel brings serious consideration to artists from the UK and Eire at a originate 2d of their inventive observe by vivid a spotlight on their work. This 12 months’s line-up celebrates their private journeys in clay, which unsuitable cultures, continents and forms of expression. The decision entails:  

• Popalini & Jezando, who taught themselves to throw with the again of You Tube and advice from potter Philip Leach, and now fetch contemporary pots influenced by venerable north Devon pottery and understated Japanese forms; 
• RCA graduate Ian Thompson, a painter who fell in admire with British ceramics and whose work is electrified by studying ceramic and painting traditions of the past; 

• Sarah Strachan, who found clay at community artwork golf equipment sooner than studying elegant artwork and now tackles environmental disorders in her multidisciplinary observe, working with both manufactured and ‘wild clay’. 

The Novel exhibitors had been selected by a panel of artists, makers, educators and studying designers led by artist and curator Helen Felcey, who feedback: 

‘The works featured within the exhibition celebrate the uncommon studying pathways that every maker, artist and designer has adopted. Some found clay as a child or whereas studying within the community, whereas others found the medium through college and university. These vivid novel talents are united by their map to embark on careers within the British ceramics self-discipline – and by their extraordinary achievements.  Each artist opens our eyes to the pleasant self-discipline matter possibilities of the medium. Their dedication to inventive discovery represents the braveness of novel beginnings, providing what we all need at this 2d in time.’ 

The 2021 Novel exhibitors are: Abi Wills, Antonio Fois, Becky Hoghton, Chloe Monks, Cicely Peers, Corinna Reynolds, Dorcas Casey, Elizabeth Jackson, Fiona Underhill, Gerald Mak, Ian Thompson, Janet Ann Traces, Karl Sebastian, Katy Stubbs, Leora Honeyman, Lexie Macleod, Nico Conti, Nicole Waefler, Oriel Zinaburg, Popalini & Jezando, Rosie Harman, Sarah Strachan, Serena Quinn, Valerie Bernardini, Valerie Zoz. 

A good deal of Novel Skill Residencies will be awarded throughout the BCB competition. The residencies will engage squawk through partnerships with Staffordshire College and Guldagergaard Worldwide British ceramics Research Centre, in Denmark, with the chosen artists then exhibiting their work within the 2023 BCB competition. 

The British British ceramics Biennial is a brilliant five-week competition of novel artist commissions, exhibitions and fingers-on events that celebrate the lifestyles, persona and creativity that British ceramics bring to Stoke-on-Trent. The first hub of the 2021 competition is the 19th century used warehouse, The Items Yard within the center of Stoke Metropolis, with other competition task taking squawk at the well-liked Spode manufacturing facility dwelling, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery and AirSpace Gallery. 

Novel 2021 decision panel:  

· Helen Felcey – artist, educator and curator

· Bisila Noha – artist, trustee at Headway East London, co-director at Lon Art, part of Make Can

· Shane Porter – designer and Lecturer, Belfast Metropolitan College

· Dr Natasha Mayo – Senior Lecturer, Cardiff Metropolitan College

· Dr Neil Brownsword – Professor, Staffordshire College Lee Critchlow – Product Make Manager, Wedgwood Fiskars

· Formative years Panel from Haywood Academy Secondary College, Stoke-on-Trent. Supported by Creep over Helen Morgan