China Design Centre Exhibits for the First Time at Collect 2019!
ByGrace Ignacia SeeAll images courtesy of Collect - The International Art Fair for Modern Craft and Design
The Crafts Council announces the return of Collect to London’s Saatchi Gallery for its 15th edition from 28 February to 3 March. The only gallery-presented art fair dedicated to modern craft and design, Collect provides an opportunity to discover and invest in exceptional work produced in the last five years by living artists, much of which is made exclusively for the Fair.
For the 15th edition, UK and international galleries, many of which are exhibiting for the first time such as Todd Merrill (USA) and the China Design Centre (UK), will present globally celebrated artists from over 30 countries. With art, design, and craft increasingly informing and fusing with each other, Collect has witnessed many success stories over the years, including names that are now in the spotlight and collected by private individuals and leading institutions.

“The growing recognition of how craft is the foundation for providing the skill and intellectual rigour behind new and contemporary work is to be celebrated. Collect showcases remarkable work by living, multi-disciplinary artists” - Isobel Dennis, Collect Fair Director
Collect will occupy the whole of the Saatchi Gallery for four days with 40 galleries, selected by an independent panel of experts, selling the work of over 400 artists. Alongside the galleries, Collect Open returns providing a platform for 15 individual artists to show ambitious and conceptual craft-led installations.
Todd Merrill (USA) will bring contemporary artists inspired by historic European design, Galeria Rubén Torres (Spain), Cube Gallery (UK), Karin Weber Gallery (Hong Kong) and House of Fly (UK) are all new to the fair as is Galerie Kuzebauch (Czech Republic) whose artists bring the illustrious history of Bohemian glass confidently into the 21st century.
The range of galleries from Asia continues to broaden with new exhibitor the China Design Centre, also making their debut, presenting pieces by Wan Liya and Xiaodong Bian. Returning Chinese gallery Ting-Ying presents ceramics by emerging artist Wanling Liang and the Korea Craft and Design Foundation (Korea) presents famed lacquer artist (and Loewe Craft Prize 2018 finalist) Hae Cho Chung. Exemplary Asian work can also be seen with ESH Gallery (Italy) returning with a focus on lacquerware and the Japanese concept of zuihitsu ‘following the paintbrush’. Leading UK gallery Katie Jones will show new work by Shinya Yamamura (lacquer) and Toru Kaneko (silver) both of whom she represented at the first Collect in 2004.
Collect Open returns to showcase ambitious 15 craft-led installations. In 2019 Katharine Swailes will present intricate tapestries inspired by the solar system, Mary O’Malley will create an American-style BBQ set and dinner service with Ming Dynasty porcelain- inspired patterns and David Clarke and Tracey Rowledge will present pewter and glass sculptures illuminated by a suspended lightbox.
Here are some highlights from China Design Centre that Collect goers can expect at this year's edition:
Liya Wan, Vessels, Ceramic, 2016. (3 Pieces)

Hao Ding, Moon Palace

Xiaodong Bian, Raindrops 8.0
Zhenpeng Fang, Vessels

Zhenpeng Fang, Light

Xiaodong Bian, Raindrops
To find out more about Collect 2019, click here.
To find out more about China Design Centre, click here.