This weekend, Ireland will be honoured at Argillà Italia, the international ceramics festival and art fair in Faenza, Italy, from Friday, 2nd September to Sunday, 4th September.
Representing Ireland in the prestigious Galleria Cento Pacific on opening night are Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), Irish Ambassador to Italy, Patricia O’Brien, and a selection of Irish ceramists. The ceramicists were selected by an international jury of professional artistic and traditional ceramists.
DCCI has supported Ceramics Ireland through the External Exhibitions Fund to enable the capsule collection of ceramicists to travel to Faenza to exhibit their work in the dedicated ‘Country of Honour’ area at the festival. Support like this affords talented makers opportunities on an international platform and champions the reputation of Irish craft abroad.
Speaking at Argillà Italia, Rosemary Steen, CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: “It is wonderful to have this opportunity to celebrate the diverse range and breadth of contemporary ceramic work being created by Irish makers. In bringing our makers to Faenza, they have an opportunity to increase their profile and extend their customer base on an international level. I would also like to congratulate the many makers in this exhibition; the standard is truly exceptional.”
The Land/Marks exhibition was curated by Elaine Riordan and Tina Byrne and features work from 42 makers. Eighteen of these Irish exhibitors will take centre stage at Argillà Italia to showcase their pieces to an international audience. The exhibition continues the ethos of celebrating the diverse range and breadth of contemporary ceramic work being created by makers of and from Ireland. Land/Marks features works that explore and challenge the material clay, investigating its malleability and pushing its boundaries.
Argillà Italia stands as a beacon for the international art and craft ceramics community, with an exhibition-market along the streets of Faenza’s historic centre. The Argillà Italia festival also hosts events and performances, spectacular ceramic firings in outdoor kilns, demonstrations, workshops, and activities for children.
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