From February 27 to March 1, Collect 2026, an international craft fair organized by the Crafts Council, was held at Somerset House in London. With over 20 years of tradition, the fair aims to expand the value of contemporary craft and design. In an era where objects can be purchased online with a few clicks and delivered quickly, the fair plays a role in demonstrating how craft can serve as an antidote.
The essence of contemporary craft that Collect champions lies in combining long-accumulated human knowledge with new tools and technologies to create innovative objects. This year in particular, it was notable that TF Chan (The Editor), originally from an editorial background, participated as a Fair Director. Compared to previous years, there was more refined curation that carefully considered design trends, along with meticulous promotion and marketing strategies. The participation of international galleries increased, and the fair strengthened its collectible design content.
This year, around 40 galleries from countries including the UK, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Japan, and Korea participated, presenting works by over 300 artists. Most of these works were created within the last five years.
Gallery FUMI, a leading design gallery in London, presented ceramic objects by Ghanaian-born artist Kobina Adusa, inspired by traditional African crafts. Meanwhile, Amsterdam-based Mia Karlova Galerie, known for collectible design, attracted attention for its stable yet artistic presentation of chairs and lighting made from recycled paper and fabric. On the strength of these works, Vadim Kibaridin was selected as the fair’s "Artist of the Fair.”
Max Radford Gallery in London, which showcases experimental art furniture, created a new atmosphere at the fair with furniture made from 폐기 (discarded/waste) materials.
Korean artists also received considerable attention. SIAT Gallery presented collectible objects by Jung Ho-yeon, Kim Jung-ho, and Kim Seon-young, which were well received. Lloyd Choi Gallery showcased Lee Jung-seok’s ceramic series Fragile, which was selected as the main image of the fair, further highlighting European interest in Korean craft.
