Category: News

We are delighted to announce the launch of the London Craft Week 2022 programme. Returning to our original spring slot, the eighth edition of the festival is taking place from 9–15 May this year.

Visit our Programme page, and be one of the first to browse and book the exciting line-up of expertly-curated events taking place across the city.

London Craft Week continues to champion creativity and ingenuity across a wide range of disciplines, from heritage craft skills to innovative new techniques and materials. We hope you will join us at as many events as possible, but we are very pleased to share a selection of key highlights with you here. Do follow us @londoncraftweek to receive the latest updates as we draw closer to the festival dates.

 

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Collectable Craft & Design

LCW 2022 features two major exhibitions at Sotheby’s: Material Consciousness – an exploration of pioneering sustainable design by furniture maker Brodie Neill, and Quartet: Goldsmithing in London Now, which brings together exquisite pieces of jewellery by Sian Evans, Lucie Gledhill, Castro Smith and Christopher Thompson-Royds. Meanwhile at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, contemporary craft fair Artefact will be shining a light on artisanal excellence across disciplines including metalwork, glass, sculpture, textiles, ceramics and upcycled materials.

 

International Perspectives

For the first time this year, we are delighted to announce two curated Country Pavilions, showcasing work by talented independent makers, artists, studios and workshops from Malaysia and Norway. Highlights include a large-scale exhibition of Royal Pahang Silk Weave presented by HM Queen Azizah of Malaysia, who has been an ambassador for the vanishing craft of silk weaving for more than two decades. At Cromwell Place, Norwegian Crafts will be collaborating with Oslo-based multidisciplinary platform and artist group PYTON to present an exhibition of pioneering works by emerging creatives and unsung heroes.

 

Pioneering Innovation in Making

LCW’s Innovation Partner The Mills Fabrica is an incubator for a new generation of independent brands and start-ups that are driving forward experimental forms of making, from exploring heritage processes to innovative technologies and materials. At Fabrica X, London’s first concept store and innovation gallery, discover demonstrations, workshops and retail experiences focused on sustainable innovation. Learn about companies like Renewcell, who turn discarded textiles into a natural material, or scan your perfect pair of jeans with Unspun, who eliminate waste with on-demand manufacturing.

 

Next Generation Creatives

Discover a renewed appreciation of craftsmanship within contemporary fashion design, materials and making. At the V&A, we celebrate the next generation of innovative talent with a programme of events around Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear, including a jewellery masterclass with Rosh Mahtani and tailoring demonstration with Kimberley Megan Lawton. In Belgravia, visit the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence to see designer Clara Pinto’s FW22 collection, which pays tribute to organic British wool, traditional tailoring and innovative degradable bioplastics.

 

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Imbued with rich traditions yet often thrillingly anarchic in mindset, Britain has always been at the cutting edge of craftsmanship. To mark the Platinum Jubilee, The Royal Exchange presents a Makers’ Market featuring a diverse selection of exceptional British craftspeople. Discover leather goods from Carréducker, fragrances from Maya Njie, and umbrellas from the UK’s longest-established umbrella manufacturer, James Ince & Sons. Continue the festivities at Fortnum & Mason, who are hosting a series of exhibitions showcasing the work of QEST-supported makers in leather, metal and textiles.

 

Artisan Chelsea

London’s artists’ quarter of the 19th century and centre of the Arts and Crafts movement; Chelsea is a neighbourhood rich in creativity and artisanal making. This year we are pleased to be working once again with the Cadogan Estate who present the Artisan Chelsea Series for LCW 2022. From an introduction to the history and craftsmanship of British luxury leather goods with Tanner Krolle, to artisanal ice cream tasting at Ice Cream Union, to Sarabande studios’ takeover of Soho Home, discover how craftsmanship is woven into the community through a programme of rich and varied events.

 

Pimlico Road and Belgravia

The Pimlico Road Design District in Belgravia presents the seventh annual Pimlico Road Series for LCW 2022. A fraternity of world-class craftspeople, artisans, curators and makers, Pimlico Road is a melting pot and meeting place for craft and design. Visit Bonadea to explore ‘Vienna Vibes’, a showcase of Viennese manufacturing, or attend a talk at Robertaebasta in celebration of the great Italian design master Gio Ponti. Elsewhere in Belgravia, Studio Pottery London host a discussion on turning passion into profit with Holly Tucker MBE, entrepreneur and founder of Not On The High Street.

 

Coal Drops Yard

King’s Cross is home of the extraordinary, and during LCW you can experience outstanding creativity across a broad range of disciplines as part of the Coal Drops Yard Series, from spectacle making to weaving to food and drink. Highlights include live demonstrations at COS by award-winning weaver Maria Sigma, who specialises in ‘zero waste’ design. Join a candle-making workshop at Earl of East, find out how to keep your leather shoes in tip top condition at Joseph Cheaney & Sons, and discover the flavours and aromas of Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse in an after-hours tasting.

 

St James’s London x Rémy Martin

Go behind the scenes of the hidden gems of St James’s London, one of the city’s most illustrious locations, alongside the House of Rémy Martin, renowned for their masterful production of exceptional spirits, in a series of events celebrating savoir faire. Join us for after-hours masterclasses, demonstrations, cocktails and tastings on a journey from St James’s, along Jermyn Street, the original home of menswear, to the elegant Princes Arcade with its boutiques that connect to Piccadilly.

 

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We very much look forward to welcoming you to our events and together celebrating the best of creativity and craftsmanship.

Featured image courtesy Clara Pinto

To coincide with Lunar New Year 2022, our February Edit is a celebration of artistry and innovation across Asia and beyond. Championing the continent’s extraordinarily rich history of craftsmanship, this month we profile some of the makers and organisations who are preserving ancient crafts and reinventing them for future generations. We’ve rounded up below a small selection of exhibitions and events to help you celebrate the new year with craftsmanship and savoir-faire.

 

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Savoir-Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion
K11 MUSEA, Hong Kong

New World Development CEO and K11 Craft & Guild Foundation Founder Adrian Cheng has joined forces with fashion icon Carine Roitfeld to host Savoir-Faire: The Mastery of Craft in Fashion. Bringing together the storied crafts of haute couture and traditional Chinese craftsmanship, the exhibition presents rare artefacts and modern pieces from the archives of K11 alongside works from acclaimed design houses that include Chanel, Dior and Loewe. Find out more.

 

Stories Encapsulated: Wood
Crafts on Peel, Hong Kong

Presenting objects made in wood by Hong Kong artisans, Stories Encapsulated: Wood is a celebration of the tactile, living nature of this medium. From small decorative objects to large furniture pieces, the exhibition features collaborations between traditional craftsmen and contemporary artisans, exploring the skills, stories and emotional connections between the makers and their works. For those unable to visit in person, there will be an opportunity to discover Crafts on Peel’s Creations Enlivened: Metal exhibition during LCW. Find out more.

 

Juefang Yang

Jewellery designer Juefang Yang marries traditional jade carving techniques with a contemporary design aesthetic. The RCA graduate, who trained as a gemologist at the Gemological Institute of America, works closely with a professional jade carving base in Yunnan, China, to create her collections, which are made solely by artisans with disabilities. Discover Juefang’s work during this year’s LCW as part of Second Floor Studios & Arts’ Deptford Open Studio weekend. Find out more.

 

Amazing China
National Base for International Cultural Trade (Shanghai)

This May, Amazing China returns to London Craft Week for the fifth year. Showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and Intangible Cultural Heritage across a range of disciplines, the exhibition will shine a spotlight on the rich history of Chinese artistry. In the meantime, head over to the programme page where you can watch demonstrations by some of the artisans who took part in last year’s virtual exhibition. Find out more.

 

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Featured image courtesy of K11 Craft & Guild Foundation. 

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Here at LCW our festive season is already well underway. Here is a small selection of experiences and one-of-a-kind gifts to help you celebrate yours.

 

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Bespoke Experiences

 

One of the truly special things about a bespoke gift is that it’s a process you can share together with your loved ones, experiencing first hand the time and care that goes into making something unique. Here are a few pointers for gifts that are special, easy to find, plus come in handy if you’ve missed the last date for delivery!

 

4160Tuesdays Fragrance
From £1,000

 

Scent is very personal, which makes it one of the most thoughtful things you can give. Maybe consider the bespoke experience at 4160Tuesdays? During an afternoon with Head Perfumer Sarah McCartney at their Hammersmith Studio, learn about fragrance making and create two 100ml bottles of artisanal perfume.

Image: 4160Tuesdays

 

Charvet
Price on request

 

In the words of Simon Crompton, founder of Permanent Style and an authority on classic menswear, ‘few places in the world compare to Charvet’. For that person who’s super-tricky to find the right present for, why not gift Charvet’s bespoke shirt-making service? If you’re feeling extra generous, you could book the Eurostar to Paris where together you can visit Charvet’s Place Vendôme shop for a made-to-measure fitting with a shirt specialist, followed by a well deserved lunch.

Image: Jamie Ferguson for Permanent Style

 

Peter Reed Bed Linen
From £480 for a bed set

 

Bespoke bed linen is a true luxury in the best sense of the word. After all, what better gift can there be than a good night’s sleep? Peter Reed’s handmade linen is synonymous with the rich heritage of English textile manufacturing, having been made to order since 1861. For something (or someone) very special, choose to add a monogram or commission your own design.

Image: Peter Reed 

 

Emefa Cole
Erosion 1 ring, £1,850

 

A beautiful made-to-order ring from a gifted jeweller, inspired by natural phenomena and the African landscape. Emefa Cole uses 100% recycled metals and stones sourced directly from African gem cutters to forge her distinctive pieces, which have been acquired for the permanent collections of the V&A and the Goldsmiths’ Company. Erosion 1 is influenced by childhood tales of golden nuggets unearthed by heavy rainfall in Ghana: ‘the land of Gold’.

Image: Emefa Cole

 

Quilting with Jennifer Raish
Selvedge online workshop, £195

 

A handmade quilt is a wonderful way to bring together off-cuts of favourite textiles and beloved garments from family and friends. Take inspiration from Annabelle Harty and Sheelagh Boyce of Arrange Whatever Pieces Come Your Way, whose quilts take hundreds of hours to hand-sew and are a physical manifestation of a long friendship. Feel like having a go at making your own? Jennifer Raish offers accessible online workshops, which will introduce you to traditional quilting techniques and teach you how to sew a small art quilt by hand.

Image: Jennifer Raish, Selvedge 

 

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A very LCW Christmas

 

At LCW we believe that extra bit of care and attention goes a long way to making something really special, even with the simplest of things.

 

The Japanese Art of Gift Wrapping
Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Workshop, £35

 

In Japan, the giving of gifts is an important cultural ritual, with the presentation as important as the present itself. This month, furoshiki expert Tomoko Kakita is holding gift wrapping workshops at Pantechnicon to celebrate the launch of her new book, Furoshiki and the Japanese art of gift wrapping. Join Tomoko to learn the key techniques and find out why furoshiki is a sustainable alternative to paper wrap. You’ll also receive a copy of Tomoko’s book.

Image: Pantechnicon

 

Jochen Holz Lustre Baubles
SEEDS London, £40 +VAT

 

Working with his own experimental techniques, Jochen Holz employs metallic oxides that are painted onto molten glass to create these ethereal lustre pendants – each one completely unique. A special addition to your own tree, or a thoughtful gift. Find Jochen’s work at SEEDS London, where Nathalie Assi also has a wonderful selection of other pieces at a wide range of price points.

Image: SEEDS London

 

Torta Di Natale Kit
Skye McAlpine, £42

 

Skye McAlpine’s Make-Your-Own Christmas Cake Set includes all the essentials to decorate a 9 inch Christmas Cake. Each set comes with a Christmas Cake recipe, cake drum, glacé fruits, nuts and yellow marzipan, as well as a gift box, gift label and seasonal green velvet ribbon to tie the box up with. You can bake your own cake or box it up and give it away as a holiday gift.

For more foodie inspiration, look to Konditor, the mince pies especially. Buy them online or in-store, and serve with a dollop of clotted cream.

Image: Skye McAlpine

 

Christmas Cracker Kits
Inq, £45

 

Bring some pop to your festivities with Inq’s marbled Christmas Cracker Kits, which come in Obsidian, Mistletoe and Pomegranate colourways. Each kit contains enough material to make 6 crackers which are 100% recyclable and will add a touch of Venetian charm to your tablescape. If you fancy going one step further, join Florence Saumarez of Inq for an introduction to marbling workshop.

Image: Inq

 

Monogrammed Napkins
Hawthorne & Heaney, monogramming services from £40

 

Another idea for your Christmas table: commission some bespoke embroidered napkins from Hawthorne & Heaney. A set of personalised table linen will last for many years and is a lovely way to mark the tradition of family and friends coming together around the dinner table.

Image: Hawthorne & Heaney

 

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Celebrate with Nyetimber
Special promotion

 

Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage, £37

This festive season, why not consider giving a bottle of Nyetimber English Sparkling Wine to special friends and family members? Or better yet, stock up for your own celebrations! The signature wine of Nyetimber, the Classic Cuvee is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier and is a perfect balance of elegance and intensity. Use the code LCW-15-Christmas to get 15% off any order over £100. Also good for seeing you through your Christmas wrapping!

This offer can only be redeemed once per person and is valid until the 31st December 2021. For full terms and conditions see here.

 

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Featured image from  Crafting a Difference at the Argentine Ambassador’s Residence, photo credit Dan Weill

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Would you like to be part of LCW 2022?

 

LCW is committed to supporting the work of emerging artist-maker-designers. Each year we are delighted to offer 25% of our Bronze Level places free of charge to independent makers, charities and sole traders.

We are now welcoming applications from individuals who are keen to be involved in this year’s festival (9–15 May 2022) and are particularly keen to hear from makers and sole traders at the start of their career.

London Craft Week aims to showcase outstanding British and international creativity to our visitors. Our curated programme of events brings together discerning consumers with makers, designers, brands and galleries, creating a unique opportunity to build engagement and sales.

As there are a limited number of spaces, each applicant for a free space must send in a proposal of their event which will be reviewed by the LCW team, and then offered on a discretionary basis.

Please apply via the online form below if you believe you qualify. The deadline for programme applications is 14 January 2022.

 

Apply Here

 

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Featured Image: Dharma Taylor at Paul Smith during London Craft Week 2021

Photo by Dan Weill

The recently concluded seventh edition of London Craft Week was our largest programme yet. If you weren’t able to fit everything into the week then don’t worry, as you can still catch up on some of the talks and exhibitions that are continuing this month.

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Talks

 

Image: Mark Cocksedge

ReCoil: Brodie Neill in conversation with Marcus Fairs, Dezeen

 

Designer Brodie Neill is known for his mastery of materials, form, and process. Born in Tasmania and based in London, his work aims to recontextualise our relationship with materials and our role in the natural world.

During London Craft Week, Brodie joined Marcus Fairs, Founder of Dezeen, for an intimate conversation discussing how he has revisited the indigenous timbers of Tasmania through the innovation of Hydrowood, a precious resource reclaimed from the island’s lakes. The result of Brodie’s collaboration with Design Tasmania, ‘ReCoil’ was presented for the first time during London Craft Week, alongside Continuum, a selection of his major upcycled works.

The exhibition is open everyday until 27 October at 6-7 Motcomb Street, Belgravia.

Watch the talk

 

Image: Dan Weill

In Good Company: Lucille Lewin in conversation with Louisa Buck

 

Lucille Lewin discusses her collaborative exhibition with Nicole Farhi, ‘In Good Company: A celebration of creativity and friendship’, with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper.

The exhibition includes new works in bronze, jesmonite, porcelain and glass, produced during the lockdowns – which both artists found incredibly productive – alongside select earlier pieces, on view until 22 October.

Watch the talk

 

Image: Katarzyna Perlak, courtesy of Jerwood Arts 

Tender Crafts: Panel Discussion at Jerwood Space

 

Ann Coxon, Curator of International Art at Tate Modern is joined by contemporary visual artists Katarzyna Perlak, Rebecca Bellantoni and Raisa Kabir for a discussion which explores how crafts can be used to revisit and reimagine history from contemporary diasporic, feminist and queer perspectives.

Jerwood Arts presented this event alongside the exhibition Survey II, which continues at Jerwood Space in London until 11 December before travelling to Sheffield.

Listen to the talk

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Exhibitions

 

Outside In
Until 27 October

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents ‘Outside In’: exceptional works of crafted art and design by international artist-makers who define their practice through their decisions to use organic, sustainable materials. These ancient materials; wood, willow, and grasses, are reimagined for the contemporary world as the makers express their devotion to nature. Find out more

 

Layers
Until 13 November

Discover ‘Layers’ at SoShiro, the first UK solo show from Cuban multimedia artist Alexandre Arrechea. Through a new collection of handmade furniture embellished with decorative mosaic work, created in collaboration with the Mosaic School of Friuli, Italy, Arrechea celebrates the relationship between the human body, architecture and colour. Find out more

 

Kuniko Maeda
Until 16 October

Kuniko Maeda is a Japanese artist based in London who works mainly with paper, leather and textiles to create handmade jewellery, artworks and installations. Contemporary Applied Arts is exhibiting Kuniko’s latest work, which combines the reuse of materials, including paper and leather, Japanese traditional craft techniques and modern digital technology. Find out more

 

Terrain: Works in Porcelain
Until 29 October

‘Terrain’ at jaggedart is a celebration of porcelain used in different ways. Lucas Ferreira’s works are made from small handcrafted fragments of porcelain, accumulated to form sequences and rhythms, evoking geological formations. Almost paper-like, Alison Gautrey’s spun porcelain vessels are translucent and weightless, capturing a feeling of movement. Find out more

 

Woven Narratives
Until 24 October

In a collaboration that celebrates the beauty of paper, Smythson hosts an exhibition at their Sloane Street store featuring works by artist Gill Wilson, in partnership with Guilded. The collaboration sees Gill create a series of bespoke artworks, which incorporate the telltale Nile Blue paper seen across Smythson’s iconic blue packaging. Find out more

 

The Art of Plaster
Until 22 October

Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler has a long history of commissioning bespoke works for clients from the UK’s finest craftspeople. This exhibition in their Pimlico Road showroom shows the vibrant plasterwork of Geoffrey Preston, an English architectural sculptor specialising in decorative plaster and the art of stucco, and includes a collection of recent floral inspired works. Find out more

 

Meaning Behind Materiality
Until 31 October

Don’t miss ‘Meaning Behind Materiality’, presented by Cynthia Corbett Gallery. The showcase offers a deep dive into different forms of craft such as ceramics, textiles and mixed media. Gallery artists include Matt Smith, Albert Montserrat and Klari Reis, in addition to Young Masters Amy Hughes, Amanda McCavour, and Emilie Taylor. Find out more

 

Cracked ft. Troy Town Shop
Until 29 October

‘Cracked’, curated by Leonie Mir, is dedicated to hand-moulded ceramics made without the use of a wheel. The exhibition, at Tristan Hoare Gallery, focuses on emerging and established contemporary artists who construct, sculpt and mould clay, demonstrating what can be achieved with ‘a little bit of mud and a little bit of genius’ (Paul Gauguin). Find out more

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Tell us what you think

 

 

Image: Tristan Hoare Gallery, Photo by Dan Weill

We would love to hear your thoughts on the seventh edition of London Craft Week. Please tell us about your experience through our 2021 survey. All entries will have the chance to win £500 to spend at Liberty London.

Take the survey here

 

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Featured image from  ‘In Good Company’, photo credit Dan Weill

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We hope you have enjoyed the first few days of London Craft Week 2021! If you’re out and about this weekend, we’ve put together a selection of highlights from the programme of nearly 400 events taking place across London and online.

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Explore Fabrica X at The Mills Fabrica

Fabrica X, London’s first concept store and innovation gallery, is presenting a showcase of demonstrations, workshops and retail experiences this weekend centred on sustainable innovations.

Join Helen Kirkum Studio in their pop-up workshop to learn about the process of bespoke sneaker creation, and discover ‘Collection 03 Imagined Communities’ by designer Joao Maraschin, whose community-led eponymous brand is focused on social design. Meanwhile Bananatex®, the world’s first durable, technical fabric made purely from the naturally grown Abacá banana plants, will have a selection of QWSTION bags, totes and sleeves available for purchase.

Kavita Parmar and Marcella Echavarria of XTANT have brought together a selection of heritage textile stories that honour the wisdom and know-how coded into the ancient language of weaving and craft traditions. Explore pieces made from mud silk, Harris Tweed wool icons and naturally dyed hats by milliner Ana Lamata.

Elsewhere, join The Mills Fabrica for the world premiere of the Mylo Consortium led by Bolt Threads, who make their patented mushroom leather for Adidas, Stella McCartney and Lululemon. Made from mycelium, Mylo is a soft, supple and sustainable alternative to leather. Meet Mylo™ and learn how Bolt Threads is advancing sustainable innovation and the circular economy.

Find out more. 

Discover LOEWE’s Botanical Rainbow of Fragrances

LOEWE is highlighting the innovative and highly crafted nature of its Botanical Rainbow of fragrances by staging an installation of artworks and sculptural floral displays in the style of Sofu Teshigahara (1900 – 1979), Master of Ikebana, at their Grade II listed CASA LOEWE London flagship store.

Teshigahara’s imaginative and disruptive creations revolutionised the global practice, reach and relevance of Ikebana—the Japanese art of flower arranging—in the 1950s and 60s, and the Sogetsu School that he founded remains an influential force in the practice to this day.

His work encompassed unusual sculpted vases and found-object vessels, created for his displays, enhancing the light, refreshingly modern style of the botanical arrangements themselves.

Find out more.

 

Glass-Engraving at Purdey

Glass engraver Karl Palmer has been working with Purdey for over 15 years. Join him at Audley House and see this incredible skill up close. Find out more.

 

Serapian at B&B Italia

Visit the B&B Italia showroom and discover a new collaboration between Serapian and Azucena, two historical Milanese maisons. Find out more.

Innovation in Craft

The Innovation in Craft exhibition showcases Silverlining’s progressive ideas, craftsmanship and finishes in furniture through hand sketches and jewel-like material and finish samples. Find out more. 

 

Brodie Neill: ReCoil

Design Tasmania presents a unique collaboration with acclaimed London-based Tasmanian designer Brodie Neill. Find out more.

 

Ruup & Form: Disobedient

Ruup & Form explores wearable sculptures with makers who are disobedient to their material, whether by material, technique or presentation. Find out more.

 

Celebrating Silver

Explore the world of silver with Contemporary British Silversmiths in the setting of the Wellington Collection at Apsley House. Find out more.

Maker’s Eye: Stories of Craft

‘Maker’s Eye: Stories of Craft’ is the first exhibition in the new Crafts Council Gallery, celebrating the breadth and diversity of UK craft. Find out more.

 

Turkish Decorative Patterns

Visit Yunus Emre Enstitüsü, London, for a workshop to learn traditional geometric and floral patterns and create your own composition. Find out more.

 

Young Masters

Cynthia Corbett Gallery and Young Masters curator and judge Preston Fitzgerald present a showcase of past Young Masters winners and alumnae as well as new fresh diverse talent. Find out more.

 

Leach 101

Thrown presents a delayed celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Leach Pottery, St Ives, shwocasing the Leach studio team of today at The Old Brick Shop on Southwark Street. Find out more.

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Featured Image:  The Mills Fabrica

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London Craft Week creates an opportunity for established and emerging craftspeople to share their stories and make their work available to a larger audience, allowing the unsung artists, makers and brands as much sunlight as the world-famous names.

In our seventh year, London Craft Week 2021 features work and events from over 450 makers. Meet the artists, get close to their work and hear them talk about their creative process and what inspires them in a range of exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, open studios and online sessions.

We’ve featured a selection of maker profiles and exhibition highlights below.

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Lucille Lewin

Before pursuing a career in fine art, graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2017, Lucille Lewin had an influential career in fashion as Founder and Creative Director of Whistles and Creative Director of Liberty. During LCW, join Lucille in conversation with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper, as they discuss Lucille’s new exhibition ‘In Good Company’. Find out more.

Zuza Mengham

Bally Art Haus presents an exhibit of sculptural pieces by London-based artist and designer, Zuza Mengham. Rooted in a preoccupation with abstracted form, materials and their stories, Zuza’s work explores the connection between traditional crafts and new methods of making. Tying together soft layers of colour, the exhibition pieces draw upon the Alpine landscapes where Bally’s heritage is rooted. Find out more.

Geoffrey Preston

Geoffrey Preston is one of the UK’s leading architectural sculptors, specialising in decorative plaster and in particular the art of stucco. His recent work has an emphasis on floral sculpture, taking inspiration in the modelling of flowers and leaves in 18th-century plasterwork and their representation in other decorative arts. Discover Geoffrey’s new works in ‘The Art of Plaster’ exhibition at Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler. Find out more.

Darren Appiagyei

Darren’s work embraces imperfection, placing emphasis on the analysis and malleability of the natural form to create functional, textural objects. Through emphasising knots, cracks and lack of symmetry, each piece is imbued with it’s own individual story: a celebration of difference. Darren’s work is on display at the Garden Museum amongst the plants of the courtyard garden throughout London Craft Week. Find out more.

Dharma Taylor

Dharma Taylor is a multidisciplinary designer and maker with a background specialising in textiles. During LCW, discover an exhibition of one-off pieces Dharma has created exclusively for Paul Smith. Made from solid oak, the woodwork pieces were crafted in memory of Dharma’s great grandfather, a self-taught carpenter, while the textile work takes inspiration from the artist’s childhood memories of sunsets in London. Find out more.

 

Bill Amberg Studio

Bill Amberg Studio has existed for over 30 years, producing bespoke leather products, interiors and furniture. Bringing together designers and artisans from the worlds of saddlery, case-making, bookbinding and other forms of fine leathercraft, the studio has a mission to explore the aesthetic and material possibilities of leather. Bill Amberg Studio’s works will be on display at the Takumi Townhouse during LCW. Find out more.

 

Mac Collins

Mac is an emerging British designer who strives to create narrative-rich and experiential work. He has an ongoing focus on materiality and drawing specifically from off-cuts, shapes and textures created by default, as part of the furniture-making process. Discover his collaboration with FLOOR_STORY as part of London Craft Week, where two new, handcrafted rugs are on display at their Shoreditch showroom. Find out more.

 

Jinno Neko

Jinno Neko is a bamboo craftsperson, papier-mâché artist, illustrator and fashion designer. She uses papier-mâché as a medium, integrating bamboo crafting techniques into her creations and bringing together her passion for Hong Kong folklore and culture. On Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 October, visit Crafts on Peel’s exhibition ‘Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo’ to watch Jinno demonstrate her technique. Find out more.

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Exhibitions 

 

Crafting a Difference 

Crafting a Difference presents a new show for LCW at the Argentine Ambassador’s official residence, curated by Andrea Harari and Brian Kennedy. The exhibition will bring together over 200 works in ceramics, wood, glass, metal, textiles and paper by over 30 artists carefully selected from the five galleries, Cavaliero Finn, jaggedart, MADEINBRITALY, Ting Ying Gallery and Vessel Gallery. Find out more.

 

Outside In

Sarah Myerscough Gallery presents their off-site exhibition ‘Outside In’, showcasing art and design pieces by international artist-makers who have made ethical and emotional decisions to use organic materials that connect us to the natural world. These ancient materials – wood, willow and grasses – are reimagined for the contemporary world as the makers express their devotion to nature. Find out more.

Mosaic Works at Layers

SoShiro presents a striking new work in collaboration with Cuban multimedia artist Alexandre Arrechea and the Mosaic School of Friuli, Italy. The handmade modular unit, entitled ‘Collector’, explores the relationship between the human body, architecture and colours, taking inspiration from Arrechea’s native Havana by layering vibrant tones with echoes of the city’s buildings. Find out more.

 

Unveiled: The Meissen Edition

Esteemed milliners Rachel Trevor Morgan, Edwina Ibbotson and Noel Stewart have worked with the iconic porcelain manufacturer Meissen to curate an exhibition of fine porcelain-inspired hats, hosted by the renowned Thomas Goode & Company. To accompany the exhibition, the curators are leading a pin-making workshop at Thomas Goode on Thursday 7 October, using Meissen porcelain elements. Find out more.

 

Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo

‘Imagine the ‘Im’possibilities: Bamboo’ is organised by Crafts on Peel and co-sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London). Ranging from the established to the emerging, traditional craftsmen and contemporary artisans from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan have come together to share their journey in reinventing the craft of bamboo at 180 The Strand. Find out more.

 

Modernity London

At the newly opened Westbourne Grove gallery in London, Modernity presents its curated collection of rare and unique 20th-century Nordic design and art, in addition to contemporary ceramic works from Alvina Jakobsson and Sandra Davolio, whose studios are based in Sweden and Denmark respectively. Alongside these contemporary works are classic design pieces from Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Josef Frank and Paavo Tynell, amongst others. Find out more.

 

Young Masters

Cynthia Corbett Gallery and Young Masters curator and judge Preston Fitzgerald present a showcase of past Young Masters winners and alumnae as well as new fresh diverse talent. The exhibition takes place at the recently inaugurated Gainsborough Hotel – a hub of contemporary art in the vibrant South Kensington art district. Find out more.

 

Cracked ft. Troy Town Shop

‘Cracked’, curated by Leonie Mir, is dedicated to hand-moulded ceramics made without the use of a wheel. Join Leonie today for a tour of the exhibition and discover works by emerging and established artists. At the same time, Tristan Hoare is delighted to be hosting the Troy Town Shop. Founded in 2014 by Aaron Angell, Troy Town Art Pottery is a ceramic workshop that provides a home to Hoxton Gardenware, a youth-led not-for-profit enterprise. Find out more.

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Calling all Makers

The Sipsmith Founders’ passionate love of gin led to them pioneering the craft gin boom.

In celebration of London Craft Week we are asking you to nominate a Smith who’s passion and love for what they craft should be recognised and championed.

Simply tag them in this post for a chance to win a morning of mentorship with the Sipsmith Founders!

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Featured Image:  Tessa Eastman by Alun Callender

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During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, creativity has flourished with makers using the enforced time in the studio to reflect, refocus and develop their practice. This year’s London Craft Week provides a snapshot of the talent, ingenuity and human resilience of the creative community during the national lockdowns, providing a platform for new work and makers who come together to support and inspire one another.

On Thursday 7 October at 6pm, join Lucille Lewin as she discusses her collaborative exhibition with Nicole Farhi, ‘In Good Company: A celebration of creativity and friendship’, with Louisa Buck, contemporary art correspondent at The Art Newspaper.

In Good Company is a celebration of the creativity and friendship of Lucille Lewin and Nicole Farhi, who both independently and unbeknown to each other left their long careers in fashion to have new equally successful careers as full-time sculptors.

The genesis of the exhibition was when Lucille Lewin and Nicole Farhi met up between lockdowns with Selina Skipwith, an independent curator and art advisor who had collaborated on a number of Nicole’s exhibitions. All agreed the thing they were missing most was the company of their female friends and going to exhibitions. Museums and galleries were busy untangling complicated exhibition schedules, and they decided rather than waiting for everyone else to work out what they were doing, it was the perfect opportunity to seize the moment and work together.

The exhibition showcases new works in bronze, jesmonite, porcelain and glass, produced during the lockdowns – which both Lewin and Farhi found incredibly productive – alongside select earlier pieces.

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