27 January 2026
Francesca Christodoulou
We are lucky to be based in the heart of London on Connaught Street, a city that remains one of the world’s most dynamic design capitals. With museums and galleries regularly presenting exhibitions that explore material innovation and craft traditions, our Associate Design Specialist, Francesca, shares five exhibitions to have on your radar.
Image: County Hall Pottery: Undergrowth | Photographer Reinis Lismanis
13 January - 08 March 2026
Bringing together ceramic and metal works in a tactile, multi-dimensional installation, Undergrowth explores the idea of undergrowth as both a biological system and a metaphor. The exhibition considers the hidden networks and quiet forces that shape environments - natural, social and creative - inviting visitors to slow down and engage with materiality at close range.
From February 2026
This monographic exhibition offers an expansive look at Simone Brewster’s practice, tracing material histories and cultural references that span from palaeolithic fertility deities to African diasporic traditions. Showcasing jewellery, furniture, sculptural works and public architectural projects, the exhibition highlights Brewster’s ability to move fluidly between scale, discipline, and narrative.
Until May 2026
Hyakkō is a celebration of contemporary Japanese craft aesthetics, featuring work by more than 120 artists, craftspeople, and self-taught makers from across Japan. Spanning clay, glass, wood, leather, metal, and bamboo, the exhibition foregrounds the relationship between maker, material, and place. Each object reflects its surroundings while balancing tradition with innovation and personal expression.
November 2026 - August 2027
Spanning furniture, architecture, fashion, and installation, Nue Black Aesthetic examines the work of designers who draw directly from identity and culture. The exhibition invites visitors to rethink assumptions about what Black design looks like, who defines design culture, and how lived experience informs creative practice today.
Until 17 September 2026
Contemporary Chinese Studio Crafts traces the evolution of studio craft in China, beginning in the 1980s when artists began reimagining craft as a form of artistic expression. Through contemporary works, the display explores how innovation has grown from China’s longstanding craft traditions, offering a nuanced view of material experimentation and cultural continuity.
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