8 craft exhibitions to see in the UK this March
Yukihiro Akama: Basho no Kankaku – A Sense of Place 場所の感覚
Architectural technician-turned-sculptor Yukihiro Akama uses wood to carve miniature houses that look as if they’re from the pages of a fairytale. More than 50 examples (some of which are just four centimetres tall) will be displayed as part of his solo exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, along with a selection of his drawings and prints.
From 9 March – 30 June at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton
The Nature of Things
Craftspeople collaborate with the great outdoors for this exhibition at Sarah Myerscough Gallery, which explores how natural materials and processes can be used to create dynamic works. Expect weathered urns from Adi Toch, twisted sand vessels from Gareth Neal, craggy clay sculptures from Aneta Regel, and more.
Until 28 March at Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London
Jeffrey Gibson: no simple word for time
Just before he becomes the first Indigenous artist to represent the USA at the Venice Biennale, Jeffrey Gibson is hosting his first ever UK solo exhibition this month at Norwich's Sainsbury Centre. The show will be centred by a huge installation made out of historic crafted objects from North America’s Indigenous cultures, intended to stir debate about how these items are displayed and perceived within cultural institutions.
Ceramic pot by Clive Bowen. Photo courtesy of Goldmark Gallery Shigoto-gi work clothes from the late Edo to early Showa period, showing as part of the Art Without Heroes: Mingei exhibition. Photo courtesy of the collection of Chuzaburo Tanaka
Clive Bowen
As Clive Bowen sees in his 60th year in pottery, Goldmark Gallery is inviting him back for his fifth major solo exhibition. An array of clay vessels will be on display, showcasing Bowen's masterful application of contrasting slips, sgraffito, and other decorative techniques – fans won’t want to miss out.
From 23 March – 21 April at Goldmark Gallery, Uppingham
Art Without Heroes: Mingei
Comprising more than 80 works, this will be the largest UK exhibition dedicated to Mingei – the folk-craft movement that emerged from Japan in the 1920s. Visitors will get to learn about its origins, the craftspeople who spearheaded the movement, and the modern makers remixing its aesthetic principles (such as artist Theaster Gates, who you may remember appeared in our Spring/Summer 2023 issue.)
From 23 March – Sunday 22 September at the William Morris Gallery, London
Sublime Symmetry: William De Morgan
A major contributor to the Arts & Crafts movement, 19th-century potter William de Morgan was known for employing mathematical principles to create intricately patterned pots, dishes, and vases. This exhibition brings together 60 of his pieces, and explores exactly how numbers played a part in his creative process.
Until 6 October at Blackwell: The Arts and Crafts House, Windermere
Nesting: A Solo Show of Joe Hogan
In 2012, basketmaker Joe Hogan began using materials like birch, larch and lichen to create 'nests', initially making small-scale sculptures before moving onto larger, more sculptural versions. This exhibition at Flow Gallery charts the evolution of his designs, and how they continue to foster a sense of wonder at the natural world.
Until 6 April at Flow Gallery, London
Materials Speak
This exhibition sees designer-maker Dharma Taylor examine how objects – in particular, textiles – can become imbued with meaning, and eventually act as 'carriers of cultural heritage'. A tapestry fittingly forms the focal point of the show, inspired by Taylor’s memories of her parents receiving a shipment of their belongings following an extended trip to their native of Barbados.
Until 26 April at the Institute of International Visual Arts (Iniva), London
