Fresh brings critical attention to twenty-five early career artists in contemporary ceramics in the UK and Ireland as part of the British Ceramics Biennial 2023 festival programme. 

The works featured in the exhibition celebrate the diverse learning pathways that each maker, artist and designer has followed. Some discovered clay as a child or while learning in a community studio, while others found the medium through college, university or experienced mentors.  

These bright new talents have been chosen from over 300 applications. They are united by their ambition to embark on ceramics careers, and by their courageous commitment to their material. They each use clay as a way of addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time. Themes explored by the Fresh artists include questioning the sustainability of our food systems, the impact of war, Queer identity, and the influences of ancient cultures and myths.

Fresh Talent Residencies

Fresh Talent Residencies will be awarded to four Fresh exhibitors during the British Ceramics Biennial 2023. The residencies will take place through partnerships with Staffordshire University, Guldagergaard – International Ceramic Research Center, in Denmark and Grymsdyke Farm, in Buckinghamshire. The fourth residency will be hosted directly by the British Ceramics Biennial in the BCB Studio based on the original Spode factory site in Stoke-on-Trent. The Fresh Talent Resident Artists will then return to showcase their work at the next British Ceramics Biennial.  

Artists

Selection Panel

Professor Moira Vincentelli, Emeritus Professor of Art History and Consultant Curator of Ceramics at Aberystwyth University

Reiko Kaneko, designer and educator

Shane Porter, Lecturer (Product), Ulster University

Simon Bayliss, studio potter and fine artist

The panel was joined by 27 year-7 students from Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke-on-Trent as part of the Transferer programme. British Ceramics Biennial worked with thse students so they could learn about ceramics and work with clay.  The students then contributed to the selection of artists for Fresh – the Biennial’s exhibition of early career artists. The group took part in a two-day online selection process with the professional panel where they helped to shape the final artist selection.

Visit

The 2023 British Ceramics Biennial has now ended. Thank you to everyone who showed support by visiting, attending events and sharing your experiences on social media.

Sponsors

Fresh and the Fresh Talent programme is proudly sponsored by Potterycrafts

Our Fresh Talent Residency sponsors are Staffordshire University, Guldagergarrd International Ceramics Research Centre and Grymsdyke Farm.