Today, Wednesday 6 August, British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) announces the 25 artists selected for Fresh, one of its flagship exhibitions and a celebration of the new wave of artists working in clay. This year’s cohort, selected from over 380 applicants, represents emerging talent from across the UK and Ireland, and reflects a wide range of perspectives and ceramic practices.
Also launching as part of BCB is Clay Films, a new strand showcasing the work of six international Global Majority artists working in film and clay. Together, Fresh and Clay Films signal BCB’s continued commitment to supporting diverse, innovative voices in contemporary ceramics. Both exhibitions will be presented as a part of the 2025 British Ceramics Biennial, taking place at Spode Works, Stoke-on-Trent, from 6 September to 19 October.
Fresh: New voices in contemporary ceramics
Fresh brings critical attention to artists from all over the UK and Ireland at a pivotal moment in their careers. With works ranging from hand-built figurative forms to architectural structures, this year’s emerging talents are united by their ambition to explore ideas, innovate ceramics practice and connect with the physicality of their material.
The 2025 Fresh artists are:
Selected by a panel of advocates for contemporary art and making, the 25 artists will be eligible for Fresh Talent Prizes, which will be awarded to four artists during the Biennial. The Fresh Talent Prizes include a range of residency opportunities in partnership with the University of Staffordshire, Guldagergaard International Ceramics Research Center and Grymsdyke Farm. The Fresh Talent Prize recipients will be invited to develop new work and exhibit at BCB 2027. For this year’s Biennial Fresh is presented in partnership with Ceramic Review.
Fresh 2025 selection panel
- Fernanda Cortes, artist
- Kevin Milward, Director of Clay College and artist
- Glen Stoker, artist and curator
- Grainne Watts, artist
- ten year-8 students from St Peter’s CofE Academy, Stoke-on-Trent, who represented their class as the Fresh Youth Panel
Clay Films: Clay through the lens of moving image
In its inaugural edition, Clay Films showcases the work of six Global Majority artists of African and Caribbean heritage from all over the world. Selected via international open call, they are: Majid Asadi (Iran) for Brother’s Horn; Gibrán Furlán (Mexico) for Hearth; Ilias Khlifat (Morocco) for Liquid; Valentina Alvarado Matos (Spain) for arrojalatierra (throwtheground); Marius van Rensburg, in collaboration with Southern Guild Gallery (South Africa) for iThongo featuring Andile Dyalvane; and Tomisin Sarumi (USA) for Departing.
With work ranging from stop motion animation to moving image, Clay Films reflects the rich and expanding ways that artists are exploring clay through film. The programme gives a rare platform for a practice that sits at the intersection of ceramics and film, and which to date has received limited exposure. The final selection was made by a panel of sector experts.
Clay Films selection panel
- Sophia Musa, LUX Distribution Manager
- Basil Olton, artist, curator and researcher
- Victoria Thomas, filmmaker, producer and Founder of Republic of Story
- Anderson West, producer, director and writer
Fresh and Clay Films are part of this year’s British Ceramics Biennial, a major celebration of clay and ceramics. Six weeks of exhibitions, installations, special events and hands-on experiences will take place at Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent from 6 September to 19 October.
For more press information please contact Iliana Taliotis mail@ilianataliotis.com
For all other enquiries please email info@britishceramicsbiennial.com