21 january 2025, Flor Linckens
4 highlights at ceramic brussels
This week presents a unique opportunity to explore the versatility of ceramics as ceramic brussels celebrates its second edition. The fair, the largest international art fair dedicated entirely to ceramics, will take place from 23 to 26 January 2025, with an exclusive preview (by invitation only) on 22 January. Following a successful first edition in 2024, which attracted nearly 13,000 visitors, ceramic brussels returns this year to the iconic Tour & Taxis warehouses in Brussels. This edition will bring together more than 60 galleries and institutions from 15 countries, showcasing works by over 200 artists. In addition to contemporary galleries, the fair will also welcome galleries specialising in modern art, bridging the gap between historical and contemporary approaches to ceramics. Expect a diverse range of works, from the small-scale to the monumental.
Ceramics is a fascinating medium that has inspired artists for thousands of years with its versatility and durability. In an era of mass production, contemporary ceramics offer a refreshing emphasis on craftsmanship. For artists, ceramics provide a playground for experimenting with colour, form, texture, and a variety of techniques—such as hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, raku and pit firing. This creative process demands not only artistic talent but also technical skill and an in-depth knowledge of materials. Each piece tells its own story, whether rooted in traditional craftsmanship passed down through generations or in innovative contemporary experiments that push the boundaries of the medium. Some artists work with surprising materials, such as recycled porcelain, 3D-printed ceramics or chemically complex glazes. Ceramics range from functional to purely sculptural, offering endless creative possibilities. Moreover, the medium is increasingly integrated with other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, performance art, textile art and even digital art, leading to exciting new perspectives.
Galerie Fontana presents a group exhibition featuring works by Carolein Smit, Inez de Brauw and Boris van Berkum. Inez de Brauw, known for her exciting painted interiors, was inspired to explore ceramics during her residencies at the EKWC in Oisterwijk and the Vermont Studio Center in the US. She employs the medium to render her work more spatial and sculptural. In some of her works at ceramic brussels, she plays with a mise en abyme effect, where a painting within a painting creates a continuous reflection and self-reference. The ceramic frame and the artwork seem to merge seamlessly into one another. Carolein Smit presents a series of animal sculptures that reference cabinets of curiosities and explore our inclination to organise and classify objects. Boris van Berkum showcases a selection of his distinctive Kabra vases. Read more about his work here and explore an overview of all works on display at ceramic brussels here.
NQ Gallery presents a group exhibition featuring works by Johannes Nagel, Nick Ervinck, Natasja Alers and Samuel Sarmiento. Natasja Alers creates ceramic sculptures that focus on the internal human body. Through unique colour combinations in her ‘visceral’ glazes, she references organs and explores the relationship between sculpture and the human body. By applying pressure and stretching the form from within, she increases the material’s tension and vulnerability. Alers studied ceramics at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and earned a Fine Arts degree from Weissensee Kunsthochschule in Berlin.
galerie dudokdegroot shines a spotlight on Delphine Courtillot with a solo exhibition highlighting her unique vision of ceramics. Courtillot began her artistic career in painting and photography at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 2015, she discovered ceramics, a medium that immediately resonated with her due to its universal and timeless nature. As one of the oldest human crafts, ceramics connect Courtillot to a long tradition of makers who came before her. She considers it remarkable how working with ceramics brings her in touch with ancient materials, shaped by the earth itself. The gestures and techniques involved in ceramic-making, she believes, are deeply rooted in human experience. In recent years, the artist also started experimenting with ceramic wall pieces. View the works on display here.
GoMulan Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Jonat Deelstra, an artist known for exploring sombre themes with a poetic touch. His previous series, aptly titled "Uitvaartcentrum de Noordzee" ("Funeral Home the North Sea"), reflects on how human burials at sea can lead to the growth of new life forms, such as coral and sea anemones. At ceramic brussels, Deelstra presents his "Oyster Coffins", poetically examining the cyclical relationship between life and death.
