Cockpit at Collect 2025

The leading international fair for contemporary craft and design returns to Somerset House this spring. From 28 February–1 March, collectors and craft lovers will have the chance to see extraordinary works by 400 makers at the pinnacle of craft artistry.

More than a dozen Cockpit makers will be represented at this year’s art fair, both as exhibitors and as part of an exciting talks programme. There is truly something for everyone, from contemporary ceramics and jewellery to fine art that pushes the boundaries of materiality.

Image: Richard McVetis, ‘The Edge of Forever’. Photo by Yeshen Venema.

If you consider yourself a ceramophile, you won’t want to miss Tessa Eastman’s selection of colourful new ‘Cloud Bundles in Pollinating Creatures’ (PIK’D, stand W3). Anne Athena also has a new body of work, titled ‘Searching for Her’, which explores healing and recovery from complex trauma (Alveston Fine Arts, stand W4).

We’re also excited that Tim Martin will be showing at Collect for the first time this year. Tim’s ceramic sculptures explore the architectural and graphic concepts of brutalism and elegance, weight and lightness, movement and stillness and can be seen with Cavaliero Finn (stand W17).

Image: Tessa Eastman, ‘Crystalline Clouds with Barnacles’. Photo by Juliet Sheath.

Also exhibiting with Cavaliero Finn this year is embroidery artist Richard McVetis, who will present a new series of intricately crafted forms and wall pieces title ‘The Edge of Forever’, which borrows its title from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. Richard will also be part of a panel talk on 1 March with the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.

A repeat exhibitor at Collect, Michèle Oberdieck will present a selection of new glass sculptures from her ‘Fantasy Plants’ series in a striking vision of the plants of the future (Vessel Gallery, stand E12). If fibre art is more your thing, head to stand E10 (QEST x Society of Designer Craftsmen) to discover the work of Kendall Clarke, who uses textiles, paper, and natural dyes to create her distinctive woven pieces.

Image: Michèle Oberdieck, ‘Blue Uprising’. Photo by Agata Pec.

Fine jewellery lovers will want to explore work by Ute Decker, whose articulation neck sculpture that can be worn in hundreds of different configurations will be shown by Objects Beautiful (stand E8) and whose work can also be seen with Goldsmiths’ Fair (stand E11) as part of their 100 rings by 100 Goldsmiths’ exhibitors display, which will also feature work by 20 Cockpit makers including Maya Selway, Donna Brennan, Emily Kidson, and more.

Emily Kidson has also created a series of five one-of-a-kind brooches for Collect, inspired by the vitality of the plant world and the exuberance of organic forms and botanical intricacies (jaggedart, stand W8). Goldsmith Ruby Taglight will also be exhibiting a new collection of jewellery as part of this year’s fair with SHAM Gallery (stand S6).

Image: Ute Decker, ‘Neck N0. 09 – Recycled Silver Articulation’. Photo by Ute Decker.

And finally, we’re thrilled that two Cockpit makers have been selected for this year’s Collect Open – the fair’s platform for pioneering craft installations by individual artists. Chosen for their ambitious nature, these projects showcase makers taking their creative practices to the next level and challenging material, social, political, or personal perceptions.

The first maker taking part in Collect Open is woodturner Darren Appiagyei, whose work showcases the beauty of material and shares personal stories through art. His collection for the fair, titled ‘What Grows in the Dark Comes to Light’ (stand E13), honours his late mother who died from fibroids is a sensory experience that invites visitors to step into the darkness and see what comes to light. Darren will also be speaking as part of a panel discussion about using craft as a platform on 28 February.

Image: Darren Appiagyei, ‘What Grows in the Dark Comes to Light, Vessel I’, 2024. Photo by Jenny Catlow.

The second maker in Collect Open is Huimin Zhang, an artist specialising in 22ct gold creations that merge various cultural techniques in her craftsmanship. Her ‘Mammary Gland’ series, a series of unique and beautiful breast flowers created using gold and her friend’s hair, was inspired by a close friend battling breast cancer (stand S0). Her work will also be shown with Objects Beautiful (stand E8) as part of their display of wearable art.

Image: Huimin Zhang, ‘Mammary gland 07’, 2024. Photo by Bin Zhang.

See the full Collect programme and get your tickets here.