Promising to be even richer and more varied than ever before, London Craft Week returns to the capital for its 12th edition. Covering national and global talent, the event has become a staple in London’s cultural calendar and continues to delight and attract visitors.
According to its founder, Guy Salter, its burgeoning popularity is in part down to our collective appreciation for craftsmanship in an increasingly tech-driven world. ‘Perhaps the developments in AI and volatility around the world mean we value human creativity and interaction even more.’ This sentiment is echoed by its managing director, Aoife Leach, who argued in an exclusive opinion piece for us last week that the need for human making is growing more crucial as we become increasingly digitally native.
We’ve gone through this year’s programme with a fine-tooth comb to cherry-pick the best of the bunch. Read on to see our picks...
Batik: Recolouring Tradition by Lisa King
Discover over 30 works by batik artist and designer Lisa King at this exhibition, which charts the history of Indonesian batik through the lens of Kings’s late mother’s textile archive, offering a personal perspective on the art form.
For those who want to get stuck in themselves, there is an evening talk and workshop where you’ll develop a moodboard for batik in interiors with the help of King, colour consultant Laura Perryman and interior designer Lishan Tham, lisakingstudio.com.
Seven Crafted Stories by Emma Louise Payne
Ceramicist Emma Louise Payne’s popular brand Atelier 76 will open the doors of its west London townhouse to present the work of seven makers. Each room is dedicated to a different discipline, from leatherwork to wood, metal, glass, weaving and ceramics. At the heart is Payne’s own oeuvre, which includes sculptural prayer chairs, mirrors and wall sconces constructed entirely from clay. Stop by the basement to watch demonstrations in a studio setting or join a class, emmalouisepayne.com.
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British Glass by Paul Smith
Paul Smith’s Foundation is celebrating the launch of a new annual design grant by asking five British glassblowers – Jochen Holz (pictured), Gather, Emsie Sharp, Stewart Hearn and Bristol Blue – to reimagine the humble water jug. Inside the British company’s Albemarle shop, discover their final creations as well as their individual making process from brief through to product sketches and studio interviews, paulsmithsfoundation.org.
What role does sculpture play in a garden? by Them Outdoors
If you’re unable to make it over to Chelsea Flower Show this year, perhaps this exhibition will satisfy your craving for the great outdoors. Dan Pearson’s courtyard at the Garden Museum will be transformed into a sculpture garden as outdoor furniture platform Them Outdoors takes it over for the week. Billed as one of our outdoor furniture brands to know, Them Outdoors stocks design-led commissioned pieces by the likes of Lewis Kemmenoe as well as outdoor versions of hit indoor furniture pieces. For 'What role does sculpture play in a garden?', there will be the opportunity to see lots of its collection in one place – from jesmonite sheep to new and quite magnificent oak spheres and corten plant sculptures, gardenmuseum.org.uk
The Shape of Scent by Craft Scotland, Jorum and Juli Bolaños-Durman
‘Through my work, I want to invite the audience to delve into a magical world of second chances, where waste material is the starting point,’ explains Edinburgh-based artist Juli Bolaños-Durman (pictured). For the Shape of Scent, Bolaños-Durman cut and engraved colourful pieces of discarded glass to create this vibrant collection of glass sculptures inspired by Jorum’s perfume range. On show at the perfume house’s Marylebone Street outpost, the sculptures perfectly marry fragrance with glass, offering visitors a synaesthetic experience. For a more in-depth look into Bolaños-Durman’s world, take a tour of her whimsical flat, julibd.com; jorumstudio.com; craftscotland.org
