ceramic brussels brings together more than 60 galleries, institutions and key players in ceramics, in a unique scenography, in the heart of Europe.
For this 2025 edition, the fair promises to open its doors to modern ceramics, welcome the participation of renowned institutions and to emphasise its international scope. As such, a special focus on Norway will highlight its vitality, and the rich and innovative ceramic art scene. Learn more about it here.
Over the past few years, ceramics has enjoyed a remarkable comeback, grabbing the limelight on the contemporary arts stage.
Supported by a string of pioneering artists who have gradually and largely contributed to its revival (Johan Creten, Miquel Barceló, Grayson Perry, Klara Kristalova, Carolein Smit and Anne Wenzel), ceramics has been given a new lease of life.
As such, it is crossing over into the practices of contemporary artists, opening the field to new experiments and being showcased by contemporary art galleries.
Ubiquitous in artists’ studios, in international centres and museums, ceramics is in a constant state of (r)evolution, subject to multiple influences and practices, possessed by the Zeitgeist and driven by a varied and high-quality scene.
The first edition of ceramic brussels,
the first international contemporary art fair dedicated to ceramics, took place from January 25th to 28th 2024 on the Tour&Taxis site, in the heart of Europe.
The fair welcomed 55 international galleries and presented close to 200 artists to 12.900 visitors
ceramic brussels has the active support of renowned international experts in the field of contemporary ceramics.
One of them, the sculptor Johan Creten, accepted the invitation to be the 2024 ceramic brussels guest of honour. In 2025, the guest of honour is the esteemed artist Elizabeth Jaeger. Read about her here.
This event takes the form of a militant fair, resolutely focused on showcasing contemporary ceramics, with an intense agenda that includes visits and exhibitions, a series of conferences and the publication of an annual review.
ceramic brussels emphasizes the experience and encounter of content, while at the same time creating an international market and networking platform.
The fair intends to demonstrate its commitment to consistently question its format, and to promote and bring together all actors in the contemporary ceramic art world.
objectives
ceramic brussels aims to showcase the vitality and diversity of contemporary ceramics practice, support contemporary creation and stimulate new exchanges between artists, institutions, galleries and the audience.
4 objectives:
↘ to showcase the diversity of artistic approaches to ceramics through the selection of international galleries and the involvement of leading global institutions and key players
↘ to offer a unique forum for high-level exchanges, networking, and induce interactions and collaborations
↘ to deliver the ceramic brussels art prize, a European call for projects with an international jury, and several additional prizes to be awarded during the fair
↘ to contribute to the production of specific content by publishing a magazine devoted to ceramics
focus on Norway
ceramic brussels 2025 will highlight the vitality of the Norwegian scene and its many facets by
→ hosting 5 Norwegian galleries, co-curating a programme of talks with a renowned panel, welcoming a delegation during the event and awarding a residency to one of the ceramic brussels art prize laureate.
In close collaboration with Norwegian Crafts, the fair affirms its will to highlight the rich and innovative ceramic art scene from Norway, bringing a fresh and dynamic perspective to the event.
The main intentions of the collaboration were announced during the princely mission in Norway which focused on crafts (wo)manship/design, energy transition, circular economy and life sciences from June 16th to 19th 2024.
ceramic brussels and Norwegian Crafts jointly selected a curated list of galleries from Norway to be present at the 2025 edition. This selection process ensures a high standard with diverse programming of contemporary craft representation.
These galleries will showcase the works of prominent and emerging Norwegian artists, providing visitors with a comprehensive insight into Norway's vibrant ceramic art landscape.
ceramic brussels and Norwegian Crafts discuss active ways in which Norwegian Crafts could participate in the talks programme at ceramic brussels 2025, be it by inviting specialists, artists or gallerists from Norway to the fair or by addressing subjects related to Norwegian art.
In addition to the gallery exhibitions, Norway's influence will permeate the fair through a series of curated talks and panel discussions. These programmes delve into various facets of Norwegian ceramic art, exploring its traditions, innovations, and the unique cultural contexts that shape its development. Esteemed artists, curators, and critics from Norway and beyond will contribute to these discussions, enriching the fair's educational and cultural offerings.
A delegation from Norway is invited to the fair. This delegation includes key figures from the Norwegian ceramics industry, artists, and other stakeholders.
ceramic brussels will facilitate meetings, tours, and networking opportunities for the delegation to enhance their experience and engagement at the fair.
Norwegian Crafts is an organisation that promotes contemporary Norwegian craft and design internationally through exhibitions, events, and collaborations. It supports Norwegian artists in reaching new audiences and fosters international dialogue in the field of craft.
scenography
The fair offers an original and ambitious scenography to provide ideal exhibition conditions and encourage the discovery of artists works and installations.
Multiple areas have been thought and developed to offer an experience to the audience.
On top of the 2 main halls welcoming more than 60 galleries, the entrance area is divided in three distinctive parts to present different projects: an entrance, the ceramic brussels art prize group show and our guest of honour exhibition.
advisory board
The fair has the support of renowned international experts in the field of ceramics.
the 2025 advisory board:
Christine Germain-Donnat (fr)
Patrimony Curator / Ministère de la Culture de France
Trained as a historian and art historian, her joyful erudition takes her to the history of clothing - to ceramics - or to contemporary creation, which she readily invites as a counterpoint to surprise the visitor’s eye and take it where it wouldn’t go! At the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris, which she has been directing since 2019, Christine Germain-Donnat played a decisive role in steering a vast renovation project that led to the museum’s reopening in 2021, as well as a major overhaul of its collections. Christine Germain-Donnat has previously worked at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen, led the redeployment of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs et de la Mode to the Château Borély in Marseille, and directed the Musée National de la Céramique (Département du Patrimoine et des Collections) at Sèvres-Cité de la Céramique.
Florence Reckinger Taddeï (fr)
President of Les Amis des Musées d’art et d’histoire Luxembourg (LU)
Florence Reckinger-Taddeï pursued a career in law, in Luxemburg and, simultaneously, initiated and supported many charitable and cultural projects linked to her passion for the arts. Today, she dedicates her time entirely to supporting the arts, organising exhibitions and the publication of art related books.
In 2019, she founded the Regala project and gallery in Arles, hosting artist residencies and an exhibition space, as well as artists’s monographies, the "Cahiers Regala". The first exhibition was dedicated to Christian Lacroix who, amongst drawings, paintings, photographies, presented his first ceramics.
Florence is President of les Amis des Musées du Luxembourg, and founder and President of Lët’z Arles and the Luxembourg Photography Award. She is an administrator for the Musée d’Art Contemporain du Luxembourg (Mudam), for the Edward Steichen Award Luxembourg, for Les Rencontres d’Arles and for the Ecole nationale supérieure de la photographie (ENSP). She is a member of the board of directors of the Luxembourg Red Cross, and has helped to introduce them to many craftspeople she has met on her travels, as well as organising a charity auction at the annual Red Cross Ball which she chaired for 20 years. Finally, she is one of the ambassadors for Homo Faber.
Ludovic Recchia (be)
Art historian and curator specialising in modern and contemporary ceramics, Director of Keramis
Ludovic Recchia is an art historian curator specialising in modern and contemporary ceramics. Curator of the European decorative arts collections at the Royal Museum of Mariemont from 2003 to 2022, he is presently director and curator of Keramis Museum and Art Center (FWB), an institution that he founded in 2015. Since 2016, he has been a membre of the International Academy of Ceramics. As part of exhibition offices, he publishes lots of books dedicated to contemporary ceramists including Marc Alberghina (2023), Daniel Pontoreau (2022), Charlotte Coquen (2017) Antoine de Vinck (2015), Frank Steyaert (2016), Marc Feulien (2006), Emile Desmedt (2005) and Johan Creten (2007).
Geertje Jacobs (nl)
Director of the EKWC international artist-in-residence and centre-of-excellence for ceramics
Geertje Jacobs is Director of the European Ceramics Centre (EKWC) in the Netherlands, an international artists’ residency and a centre of excellence for ceramics.
For 50 years now, artists, designers and architects from all over the world have been working there to experiment with clay. The EKWC is the combination of world-class facilities, the presence of consultants with internationally leading technical knowledge and the openness to freely share recipes, processes and innovation.
Geertje Jacobs studied art history in Utrecht and Florence and has worked in the museum sector for over 15 years (notably at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Textile Museum in Tilburg and the National Glassmuseum in Leerdam).
Magdalena Gerber (ch)
Artist, Professor and Head of CERCCO, HEAD-Geneva
Magdalena Gerber is an artist based in Geneva.
Her artistic research evolves between the fields of art and design. Alongside her sculptural projects in the studio, her work explores changes in the industrial manufacture of porcelain in Switzerland. Since 2013, she has been the director of CERCCO, the Centre for Contemporary Ceramics at HEAD - Geneva, where she works as a lecturer in art and design.
She holds a BA in Ceramic Sculpture and an MAS in Art | Design and Innovation from the University of Art and Design Basel.
Henri Jobbé Duval (fr)
Commandeur des Arts et Lettres ; Co-founder of the Fiac, Chairman of Source Garouste Hermine
Trained in law, he set up a contemporary art gallery in Rennes where he championed avant-garde artists such as Bram van Velde, Hartung, Messagier, Soulages and Velichovic...
He helped to set up the FIAC organising committee. He then ran the Beaubourg 2 gallery with Pierre Nahon and Patrice Trigano, and then the Travers gallery.
As director of communications and partnerships at OIP, a company specialising in the organisation of trade fairs, he played an active part in the development of the FIAC, the Salon du Livre and the Salon Nautique.
He also founded HJD & Cie, was Curator of summer exhibitions in La Rochelle (Richard Texier, Ernest Pignon Ernest, Hervé Di Rosa), contributed to the creation of Art Paris Abu Dhabi, and supported Ateliers d'art de France in the creation of the first Biennale des Métiers d'art at the Grand Palais.
He is involved in La Corderie Royale de Rochefort (Centre international de la mer), La Source, and is the President of La Source Hermine.
founders
The fair is co-managed by a Franco-Belgian duo, Gilles Parmentier and Jean-Marc Dimanche.
They both initiated several major exhibitions, artistic events and/or fairs in Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and share the running of the fair, playing on the strength of their complementary skills.
Gilles Parmentier (be)
ceramic brussels Co-director, Art on Paper and Brussels Drawing Week Director
After more than 10 years working in communication and human resources, in 2011, Gilles Parmentier was appointed director of the Reporters agency, a reference in Belgium specialised in photojournalism and video.
In 2017, he founded Studio Gondo (VO Group), which links the artistic world with businesses and brands. Since 2018, he has been Fair Director of Art on Paper, the international drawing fair in Brussels, which he manages and develops. Brussels Drawing Week, organised in partnership with more than 30 Brussels cultural institutions, was his brainchild.
Today he works on numerous artistic and creative projects and events.
Jean-Marc Dimanche (fr)
Artistic advisor, General Commissioner of the Biennale De Mains De Maitres Luxembourg, ceramic brussels Co-director
After creating and directing the design agency V.I.T.R.I.O.L. for 20 years, he founded in 2008, with Florence Guillier-Bernard, Maison Parisienne, a traveling gallery dedicated to French crafts, in the framework of which he organised more than fifty exhibitions in various European capitals.
At the beginning of 2016, he was called as advisor to H.R.H. the Grand Duchess Heiress of Luxembourg, and worked with her on the implementation of the biennial De Mains De Maîtres, of which he is now general commissioner.
In parallel, he directed, between March 2019, the date of its opening in Brussels, and June 2022, ELEVEN STEENS, a private space dedicated to Art and Matter, open to all areas of creation, be it the plastic arts, design, crafts, architecture or fashion.
Independent curator, he accompanies numerous exhibitions in the field of crafts and contemporary art, whether in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. For the past five years he has been a contributor to the Revue de la Céramique et du Verre and has contributed to numerous catalogues and artists' books.
team
Gilles Parmentier,
co-director
gilles@ceramic.brussels
+32 476 91 07 87
→ ceramic-brussels/founders
Jean-Marc Dimanche,
co-director
jean-marc@ceramic.brussels
+33 6 16 24 08 28
→ ceramic-brussels/founders
Stéphanie Vessière,
exhibitions, food & production coordinator
stephanie@ceramic.brussels
+32 472 70 96 83
Tiphaine Queguineur,
fair coordinator
tiphaine@ceramic.brussels
+32 470 01 54 62
collaborators
Sophie Carrée PR,
public & press relations
Pam&Jenny,
graphic design
Variable,
web development
Olivier De Roeck,
scenography
Olivier De Roeck