16 january 2026, Flor Linckens
Highlights at ceramic brussels
Next week, Brussels will briefly revolve around ceramics as ceramic brussels opens its third edition. The fair, the largest international art fair dedicated exclusively to ceramics, takes place from 22 to 25 January 2026, with an invitation-only preview on 21 January. Following a strong 2025 edition that attracted nearly 18,000 visitors, the fair returns to the distinctive warehouses of Tour & Taxis in Brussels. This year, more than 70 galleries and institutions from 14 countries will present work there by over 200 artists. From the intimate and the fragile to the bold and the monumental: the scale is as diverse as the medium itself.
Ceramics is a fascinating medium that has inspired artists for thousands of years thanks to its versatility and durability. Precisely now, in an era of mass production, the renewed focus on craftsmanship feels strikingly relevant. For artists, the medium offers a compelling field for experimentation with colour, form, texture and a wide range of techniques, such as hand-building, wheel throwing, glazing, raku and pit firing. This creative process demands not only artistic vision but also technical skill and an in-depth understanding of materials. Each object carries its own story, whether rooted in traditional crafts and techniques passed down through generations or in contemporary experiments that stretch the boundaries of the medium. Some artists work with unexpected materials such as recycled porcelain, 3D-printed ceramics or chemically complex glazes. The results range from functional objects to purely sculptural works, with endless creative possibilities. Ceramics is also increasingly combined with other art forms, including painting, sculpture, performance, textile art and even digital art, leading to new and engaging perspectives.
This year, two galleries represented on GalleryViewer are taking part in the fair: Galerie Fontana and Rademakers Gallery.
Galerie Fontana presents a group presentation featuring work by Carolein Smit, Asya Marakulina and Babs Haenen. Here, you can already preview the works that the gallery will show at the fair.
Through her ceramic reliefs, Asya Marakulina creates portraits of demolished houses, in which visible traces of walls, floors and interiors reveal how personal living spaces can be abruptly transformed by demolition, war or urban intervention. Last year, she was awarded a Ceramic Brussels Art Prize.
In her ceramic sculptures, Carolein Smit draws on the visual language of cabinets of curiosities, anatomy and vanitas traditions. In some cases, her detailed animal figures appear almost endearing, while other works address instinct, aggression, vulnerability and our uneasy relationship with life and death.
Babs Haenen creates porcelain sculptures in which her background in dance resonates through flowing, organic forms. She works with coloured porcelain slabs, building layered sculptural compositions. Her recent work takes inspiration from Chinese landscapes and the tradition of scholar’s rocks, distinctive natural stones that have been collected for centuries by Chinese scholars, artists and Taoist monks.
Rademakers Gallery presents a solo show highlighting the work of Chris Rijk. An overview of the works on display can be found here. Rijk translates the visual language of traditional ceramic styles such as Delft Blue into outspoken works about identity, queer culture and contemporary desires, often with a generous dose of humour. This results in unexpected imagery, ranging from Walt Disney Zaandam and Lange Jan from the Dutch Efteling theme park to erect penises, emojis, the Nike logo and online chatrooms. His work deliberately brushes up against social norms.
