For the People & Place Commission, Josie KO explores the importance of diversity in Stoke-on-Trent. Inspired by the city’s iconic bottle kilns, Josie has created a new goddess for the city.

The Chimney Princess

The ceramic figure of a Black woman here represents the visibility of all POC communities and is as important and monumental as Stoke-on-Trent’s bottle kilns themselves. This immersive installation has been produced in collaboration with local communities drawing upon their varied backgrounds to highlight the diversity of Stoke-on-Trent. Standing five feet tall and hand-built from black clay, the deity figure is displayed in an installation setting inspired by Stoke-on-Trent’s Trentham Gardens.

The Chimney Princess is surrounded by ceramic works made with community members. Special thanks to Kwaanza Collective UK, The Portland Inn Project, Urban
Wilderness and Make it Glasgow whose participants took part in The Chimney Princess workshops and whose work is incorporated into the installation.

About the People & Place Commission

The People & Place Commission celebrates BCB’s location in the UK’s capital of ceramics, Stoke-on-Trent. The commission enables a contemporary UK-based artist to develop new work using the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire as creative stimulus. The commissioned artist is selected via a nomination and selection process involving contemporary art experts from across the UK alongside Stoke-on-Trent community members.

Nomination and Selection Panel

Duncan Ayscough, Artist and Lecturer in Ceramics, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Priscila Buschinelli, Artistic Programme Manager, British Ceramics Biennial

Mary Evans, Artist and Director, UCL Slade School of Fine Art

Dr Christopher McHugh, Artist and Lecturer in Ceramics, Ulster University

Sam Trotman, Programme & Partnerships Director, Scottish Sculpture Workshop

Clare Wood, Artistic Director & Chief Executive, British Ceramics Biennial

The Art Club members of Urban Wilderness (now known as Wild Edge Arts), producers of socially engaged projects, events and artworks based in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent