Collect 2025: A Celebration of Contemporary Craft at Somerset House
Now in its 21st edition, the Crafts Council’s Collect fair remains the standard-bearer for contemporary craft, uniting some of the most compelling galleries, makers, and collectors worldwide. From innovative ceramics to beautifully crafted glass, textiles, and metalwork, Collect serves as a key platform for highlighting artistry, innovation, and material excellence.
This year, the fair offers an even more engaging experience, featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of works that challenge traditional concepts of craft and celebrate age-old techniques. The connection between heritage and modernity is more apparent than ever as artists delve into themes such as sustainability, digital craftsmanship, and cultural narratives.
Amidst a wealth of stunning pieces, choosing standout works has proven challenging. Nonetheless, after browsing the fair’s numerous gems, here’s a curated list of my favourite pieces that reflect the essence of Collect 2025.
First of March
First Of March is an online gallery and creative destination dedicated to showcasing, celebrating, and advocating for leading designers and makers living and working in Wales. Founded in 2019, the gallery is built upon three evocative Welsh words—Hiraeth, Hwyl, and Cynefin—which inspire and guide ethos, shaping its curatorial approach and deep connection to place and craft.
Through a carefully curated selection of one-off pieces, limited editions, bespoke collections, and commissions, First Of March fosters a modern identity for Welsh craft. Each maker’s work tells a story—honoring Wales’ rich cultural heritage while embracing the passion, innovation, and artistry that define contemporary ceramics, textiles, metal, and glass design.
At Collect 2025, First Of March presents an exceptional lineup of artists, including Beate Gegenwart, Michelle Griffiths, Rauni Higson, Amber Hiscott, Suzanna James, Catrin Jones, Rebecca Oldfield, Ruth Petersen Pulford, Mary Ann Simmons, Mari Thomas, and Annette Marie Townsend. Their works embody the gallery’s mission: to preserve and evolve Welsh craft traditions, ensuring their continued relevance on the global stage.
1882 LTD
1882 Ltd. is a design-driven British ceramics brand that thrives on innovation, embracing the philosophy that no structural, sculptural, or finishing challenge is insurmountable. Rooted in heritage craftsmanship, the brand seamlessly merges centuries-old skills with contemporary artistry, redefining what ceramics can be.
For Collect 2025, 1882 Ltd. presents a striking collection of one-off and limited-edition pieces by leading British creatives, including furniture designer Max Lamb, ceramicist Leah Jensen, and couture designer Giles Deacon. Each piece, meticulously handcrafted by master potters at the brand’s Stoke-on-Trent factory, exemplifies the fusion of tradition and innovation—where expert craftsmanship meets bold, modern design.
Pushing the boundaries of material, form, and technique, the collection embodies a spirit of curiosity and playfulness. Dynamic explorations of pattern, color, and texture transform each work into a functional object and a sculptural statement, captivating and challenging perceptions of contemporary ceramics.
PIK'D
Randa Missir is the founder and creative director of PIK’D Gallery, a distinguished collectible art and design gallery in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. Since opening in 2018, the gallery has showcased an exceptional collection of ceramic and glass works from internationally acclaimed designers, thoughtfully curated alongside outstanding Lebanese design talent.
With decades of experience in the art and design world, Missir has long been sourcing and acquiring unique pieces, a passion that ultimately led to the launch of PIK’D Gallery. Her keen eye for originality and ability to uncover true artistic value have established the space as a globally recognised destination for collectible design. This year at Collect 2025, the gallery’s stand features works by Tessa Eastman, Toni Losey, and Andrea Nassar, further highlighting Missir’s intuitive and masterful curatorial vision.
Alison J Clark
Float – Dividing the Line is the latest exploration by architect and ceramicist Alison Clark. Beginning with delicate lines of clay—wrapped through fingers, looped, and pinched—Clark crafts intimate building components that, when balanced and stacked, form intricate, almost bewildering structures. As they undergo the transformative heat of the kiln, these fragments warp and shift, evolving into fluid, unpredictable forms.
The artist invites viewers to interpret these works freely—perhaps as nests, clouds, or even echoes of ancient artefacts. For Collect 2025, Clark expands her creative journey with the introduction of Glass Horizons, a series that celebrates the ambiguous nature of sectional composition. This latest development allows for greater scale and complexity, pushing the boundaries of material and form.
Supported by RER London.
NM Art & Design
NM Art & Design is a dynamic young gallery dedicated to contemporary art and collectible design. With a mission to support emerging talent worldwide, the gallery seeks to break down geographical and creative barriers, fostering a global dialogue between artists and designers.
Rooted in the aesthetic of natural simplicity, NM Art & Design represents both rising artists at the start of their creative journeys and established, widely recognised talents. This inclusive approach cultivates a space where experience and innovation intersect, encouraging collaboration, knowledge exchange, and artistic growth.
At Collect 2025, NM Art & Design presents a thoughtfully curated selection of works, showcasing the craftsmanship of Benni Allan, Marina Baisel, Ira Boyko, Drozhdini, Momoka Gomi, Sofia Karnukaeva, Ulyana Khokhlova, Adriana Meunié, and Alena Mukhina. The gallery champions creative synergy and the evolving dialogue between materiality, form, and artistic expression through this diverse lineup.
Cavaliero Finn
Now in its 21st year, Cavaliero Finn has built a reputation for its expertly curated portfolio of contemporary art and meticulously crafted collectible design. The gallery collaborates with leading museums and institutions, providing consultative services to interior designers and architects worldwide. Additionally, it commissions bespoke artworks for corporate and private collectors, reinforcing its commitment to championing exceptional craftsmanship and artistic innovation.
At Collect 2025, Cavaliero Finn presents a remarkable lineup of artists, including Juliette Bigley, Lise Herud Braten, Sara Brennan, Edmond Byrne, Adi Toch, Helen Carnac, Matthew Chambers, Robert George, Björk Haraldsdóttir, Ikuko Iwamoto, Nicholas Lees, Tim Martin, Richard McVetis, Alan Meredith, Cecilia Moore, Frances Priest, Sarah Purvey, Annie Turner, and Mizuyo Yamashita. With this diverse selection, the gallery continues to bridge the worlds of contemporary art and design, offering a platform where materiality, technique, and creative vision converge.
Uriel Caspi
Visually drawing from Middle Eastern archaeological relics and the aesthetics of visionary design, Uriel Caspi crafts a series of ceramic fragments that reimagine the post-human body. His work explores the interplay between familiar anatomy and uncanny, organ-like forms, encased within a geometric framework that both supports and constrains. This tension between form and matter creates a dynamic oscillation within a carefully restrained space.
Resembling anthropomorphic organs and architectural structures, Caspi’s slip-cast ceramic pieces are glazed in a luminous Arabian lustre, meticulously formulated with precious earth metals. His obsessive research and mastery of this ancient technique allow his sculptural objects to exist in duality—bridging the aesthetics of antiquity with speculative visions of the future.
Charled Burnand Gallery
Founded in 2009 by Simon Stewart, Charles Burnand Gallery has become an internationally renowned destination for collectible design and contemporary studio artworks. Representing established and emerging designers and artists, the gallery is located in London’s vibrant Fitzrovia Design District, attracting a global clientele searching for one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces.
With a deep respect for fine craftsmanship, Charles Burnand Gallery strongly emphasises sustainable materials and responsible production techniques, ensuring that each work reflects artistic excellence and environmental consciousness.
At Collect 2025, the gallery presents a carefully curated showcase featuring the work of Kyeok Kim, further highlighting its commitment to innovative, material-driven design.
Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections
Founded in 1994, Joanna Bird Contemporary Collections has been a fixture at Collect since the fair’s inception in 2004, consistently showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design. This year, the gallery returns with a dedicated focus on studio glass, presenting a selection of works that highlight the material’s expressive potential and technical brilliance.
Representing a distinguished roster of international artists, Joanna Bird is widely respected for her expertise in ceramics and glass. Her deep knowledge and curatorial vision make her a sought-after consultant for museums, architects, and collectors—whether for individual statement pieces or large-scale installations.
At Collect 2025, the gallery’s presentation features outstanding works by Steffen Dam, Laura de Santillana, Katya Izabel Filmus, Joseph Harrington, Kaja Upelj, and Gregory Warren Wilson, each bringing a unique perspective to the medium. These artists explore themes of nature, time, and material transformation through their mastery of glass, reinforcing the gallery’s commitment to showcasing the best in contemporary studio glass.
Huimin Zhang
Huimin Zhang is an artist renowned for her mastery of 22ct gold, blending diverse cultural techniques—including filigree, engraving, and European gold and silver thread embroidery—to develop her distinctive craftsmanship. To complement her delicate, handmade 0.08mm gold wire, she even pioneered a super-low-temperature 22ct gold solder, pushing the boundaries of traditional goldwork.
For Zhang, the fusion of multiple craft traditions is a way to preserve heritage while creating something entirely new. Her Mammary Gland series is deeply personal, inspired by a close friend’s battle with breast cancer. Seeking to uplift and empower, she envisions her friend blooming like summer flowers—reminders that even the briefest lives can leave a profound and lasting impact. Weaving together gold and strands of her friend’s hair, Zhang crafts exquisite breast flowers symbolic of resilience, irreplaceability, and radiant beauty.
&Gallery
Established in 2017, &Gallery is a contemporary visual art gallery situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s art district. With a focus on abstract and minimal painting, drawing, sculpture, and ceramics, the gallery curates a specialist programme of solo exhibitions alongside dynamic group shows. Representing artists from the UK and beyond, &Gallery provides a platform for emerging and established talents, fostering a dialogue between material, form, and artistic intent.
For its debut presentation at Collect 2025, &Gallery explores the intersections of architecture, nature, and human experience through the transformative works of Rebecca Appleby, Richard Perry, and Derek Wilson. Each artist brings a distinctive approach to materiality and structure, reflecting on the passage of time and the impact of human intervention on their surroundings. Through their sculptural and ceramic pieces, the showcase invites viewers to reconsider the relationship between built environments and organic evolution.
Gallery Sklo
Founded in 2003, Gallery Sklo is Korea’s first gallery dedicated to contemporary glass art, playing a pivotal role in integrating glass into the broader contemporary art scene and fostering a new generation of collectors. Over the years, its vision has expanded to include artists exploring diverse materials beyond glass, reflecting the gallery’s commitment to material innovation and artistic excellence.
At Collect 2025, Gallery Sklo presents a dynamic selection of works by Hyesook Choi, Sukyung Chung, Kira Kim, Yongjoo Kim, Hyejeong Ko, Jaiik Lee, Taehoon Lee, and Sunghoon Park. Featuring five Korean glass artists, two metal artists, and one textile artist, the showcase highlights the gallery’s evolving approach—celebrating technical mastery and contemporary material exploration.
The Collectors Lounge - Montcalm Mayfair
This year’s Collect 2025 welcomes an exclusive retreat for art enthusiasts and collectors—the Collectors’ Lounge, presented by Montcalm Mayfair. As a hotel renowned for its pioneering concept of Sensitive Luxury, Montcalm Mayfair brings its ethos of refined hospitality and artistic expression to Somerset House, offering a serene and inspiring space amid the vibrant energy of the fair.
Curated by Studio Est, the lounge is a seamless extension of Montcalm Mayfair’s signature aesthetic, The Garden, celebrating nature’s influence on design. Carefully selected works from leading artists and makers are displayed throughout, creating an immersive experience where craftsmanship meets contemporary creativity. The space itself is a study in texture and materiality, with organic motifs, rich textiles, and sculptural forms that reflect a balance between heritage and modern innovation.
More than just a place to pause, the Collectors’ Lounge underscores the shared values of Collect 2025 and Montcalm Mayfair—where art, design, and hospitality converge to shape new definitions of luxury. Here, guests are invited to engage, reflect, and connect, immersed in a world where artistry transforms the everyday into the extraordinary