Collect

Collect is one of the most influential art fairs to have emerged in recent years and is now one of the highlights of the international cultural calendar. Staged at the Victoria and Albert Museum, it is the only fair in Europe devoted to contemporary applied arts which can be seen in the context of the V&A’s collections of applied and decorative art. The quality of work on show is thrilling, but so too is the breadth, ranging from ceramics, glass and silver, to textiles, furniture, jewellery and wood carving. Collectors, gallery owners and the public come to the fair - organised by the Crafts Council - to view and buy contemporary work from the best international galleries, stimulating the market for contemporary objects and putting contemporary British craft in a global context. Collect has helped enhance Britain’s reputation as one of the major centres of contemporary craft. This stunning book, showcases work by over 350 leading artists (both internationally recognised and emerging young makers) from 43 of the world’s most prestigious galleries. With forewords by Mark Jones, Director of the V&A, and Joanna Foster, Chair of the Crafts Council, it is richly illustrated with over 100 examples of dynamic innovations, with accompanying texts by their makers, a fascinating look at both a private and public collection of contemporary craft: Dan Klein’s and the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA)‘s, as well as a celebration by Danielle Proud of the resurgence of grassroots crafts. Much more than just a record of a landmark event, it is also a comprehensive introduction to contemporary crafts, applied arts and to the world of collecting.