11 craft exhibitions to see in the UK this August

2 August 2022

This month's mix of must-see shows

2 August 2022

Exhibitions

Sunset; Autumn by Joon Yong Kim, as part of Expanding Horizons: Contemporary Glass and Culture from Japan, Korea and China at the International Festival of Glass. Photo: Sylvain Deleu

The International Festival of Glass

The International Festival of Glass is back with a stellar selection of exhibitions, artist presentations and masterclasses. This year, shows include a spotlight on glassmaking in East Asia, featuring the work of creatives hailing from Korea, China and Japan. Make sure you also catch the fashion show, which will see contemporary Korean hanbok clothing modelled alongside striking glass jewellery.

26 to 29 August at venues across the Stourbridge Glass Quarter, Wolverhampton

Dancing in the Womb

After a decade-long hiatus, textile artist Rezia Wahid has returned with a solo show at Whitchurch Silk Mill in Hampshire. The exhibition features a series of her signature gauzy fabrics that abstractly interpret memories of early parenthood; there’s also weavings that Wahid – a mother of four – has recently begun making again.

Until 4 September at Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch

Ebb & Flow

Aptly set amid the soaring glass skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, this solo exhibition by Louis Thompson explores the key qualities of glass and all the different ways in which it can be manipulated. While some of the pieces are classic by design, others are a riot of colour, organic in form or unusually tactile – a true testament to Thompson’s skills after 30 years in the industry.

Until 20 August in the lobby of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London

A Passion for Form

Esteemed neuropathologist Dr Brian Harding has been accruing a collection of sculptural ceramic and textile artworks by stars such as Jennifer Lee and Magdalene Odundo for more than 40 years – now, for the first time, they’re available for public view at London’s Maximillian William gallery. Pieces are displayed atop of cupboards and shelving, making visitors feel almost as if they’ve stepped into Harding’s own home.

Until 27 August at Maximillian William, London

2022: Magnificent Design

In honour of its 10th birthday, Kidderminster’s Museum of Carpet is resurfacing some of the best designs from its archive. As well as offering an insight into the history of carpets, the exhibition will spotlight contemporary carpet companies and show how they’re making use of today’s technology. There will also be a selection of graduate work on display, offering a glimpse into the future of carpet making.

Until 3 September at the Museum of Carpet, Kidderminster

I Drink To You Medusa and Salome by Lindsey Mendick. Photo courtesy of Carl Freedman Gallery
Detail of Mariana Castillo Deball's ceramic towers. Photo courtesy of the artist

Roman Rubbish

Between 2012 and 2014, some 14,000 Roman artefacts were unearthed from beneath Bloomberg’s European headquarters in London. For this exhibition, Berlin-based artist Mariana Castillo Deball has created oversized ceramic replicas of these artefacts, and arranged them into towering columns that almost serve as monuments to the capital’s ancient residents.

4 Aug 2022 to 14 Jan 2023 at Bloomberg SPACE, London Mithraeum

Off With Her Head

This exhibition sees Margate-based artist Lindsey Mendick explore the narratives surrounding real and mythical female figures from throughout history, from Medusa to Monica Lewinsky. Although Mendick’s work predominantly takes the form of ceramic sculpture, visitors can also expect to see films, stage sets, live performances, furnishings and more.

Until 28 August at Carl Freedman Gallery, Margate

Harvest: Fruit Gathering

Nearly 40 years after their first collaboration, glass artists Neil Wilkin and Rachel Woodman are uniting once again to present Harvest: Fruit Gathering, an exhibition at Denbighshire’s Ruthin Craft Centre. Exploring the pair’s affinity for flora, fauna and the wider natural world, the show will include Woodman’s delectable cherry-shaped sculptures and Wilkin’s vibrant vessels, which mimic the layered appearance of rock strata.

16 July to 25 September at Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire

Group of sculptures by Julian Watts. Photo: Mario Gallucci, courtesy of Sarah Myerscough Gallery and the artist

Ash Swale

For his first European solo exhibition, artist Julian Watts showcases his body of bleached, bronzed and blackened sculptures. Crafted from foraged wood, each amorphous piece acts as a small tribute to the forested landscapes of rural Oregon, where Watts now lives and works.

Until 17 September at Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London

The Lebanese House: Saving a Home, Saving a City

In this installation at London’s V&A, Lebanese architect Annabel Karim Kassar and her eponymous studio AKK honour the historic buildings lost in the tragic 2020 Beirut port explosion. After the blast, AKK helped restore one of the city’s 19th-century residences – a replica of its facade now forms the focal point of the installation. There will also be screenings of specially commissioned films that explore the effect the explosion has had on both Beirut’s inhabitants and architectural landscape.

Until 21 August at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Festival of Quilts

All things quilting are celebrated in this four-day event at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. On site there’ll be an array of textile galleries, specialist craft suppliers, competitive quilt displays and plenty of chances for you to brush up on your own skills, with esteemed creatives offering a range of workshops and lectures.

From 18 to 22 August at The NEC, Birmingham

11 craft exhibitions to see in the UK this August

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