Glass highlights of London Craft Week 2024

The increasingly popular annual London Craft Week takes place from 13-19 May 2024, with events and exhibitions at venues across the city showcasing talented makers working in many disciplines.

Glass highlights include a free outdoor exhibition of works by US glass master Dale Chihuly at Chelsea Barracks, Belgravia, in the inaugural edition of ‘Modern Masters’ (13-19 May 2024).

Four of Dale Chihuly’s installations have been thoughtfully placed throughout Chelsea Barracks (SW1W 8BG), where the public can explore the art among its architecture and public grounds. There is no need to book.

Across his 60-year career, Dale Chihuly has used glass to explore the way form interacts with light and space, creating installations in harmonious dialogue with the environments where they are sited, and inspiring new perceptions of space. [Contemporary Glass Society members can read more about Dale Chihuly in an article in the May 2024 print edition of Glass Network too.]

There are two opportunities to hear more about the exhibition ‘A Fine Line: Modern Makers at Pitzhanger’, which features contemporary pieces inspired by Sir John Soane’s aesthetic and architectural legacy. The exhibition has been curated by glass and ceramics gallery curator Joanna Bird, and is on show at Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in Ealing Green, London W5 5EQ, from 8 May-4 August 2024.

During London Craft Week, visitors to Pitzhanger Manor can book for an evening talk by Joanna and two of her glass exhibitors, cast glass artist Joseph Harrington and Gergory Warren Wilson, a poet and glass artist who uses hand-cut tesserae in multiple layers. This takes place on 16 May from 5pm-7.45pm. For more details and to book, click this link. Alternatively, on 18 May, between noon and 2pm, join Joanna for an informal talk and guided tour of the exhibition (this is free with general admission to the Manor).

Meanwhile, Vessel Gallery will be presenting three rooms of immersive exhibitions at Cromwell Place, on the theme ‘Ethereal Nature’. There will be new works by three of the gallery’s artist-makers: Enemark & Thompson (glass sculpture), Maarten Vrolijk (glass, ceramic, lighting and paintings) and Tsai & Yoshikawa (metal, lighting and mixed media). Admission is free and the show is on from 10am-6pm on 15-18 May and 10am-4pm on 19 May at 4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE.

Also at 4 Cromwell Place will be the Korean International Pavilion, presented by Soluna Art Group, featuring works by UK-based glass artist Keeryong Choi and glass artist Kyouhong Lee, alongside others who were also 2023 finalists in the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize. These works will be on show in Galleries 5 and 6 at 4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE (opening days and hours the same as for Vessel Gallery, above).

There are many other events taking place across the city during London Craft Week. Read the online catalogue here or check out the website: https://londoncraftweek.com for more information.

Image: Detail of one of Dale Chihuly’s installations that will be on show at Chelsea Barracks.