Area Highlights and Suggested Itineraries
We’re delighted to announce the opening of London Craft Week 2023. With a programme that spans the city from Park Royal and Barnes in the West to De Beauvoir and Greenwich in the East; in venues ranging from the capital’s foremost cultural institutions and world-famous luxury stores to independent makers’ studios and even a speakeasy bar; encompassing disciplines from goldsmithing and millinery to distilling and perfumery, it can be hard to know where to begin. We’ve put together some suggested itineraries to get you started and hope that you find your way to old favourites and new discoveries alike. We look forward to meeting some of you out and about, and would love to hear your thoughts, so please look out for links to our survey on signs and postcards around the events for an easy way to provide your feedback. Enjoy all the week has to offer and follow us on Instagram for live updates through the week.
Mayfair Art and Design
Last week we celebrated the savoir faire behind Mayfair’s luxury fashion and accessories houses. The programme in Mayfair is equally rich in art and design. Mint curates ‘Close to the Edge’, an exhibition investigating the balance between raw materials and innovative forms. Mayfair Gallery’s collection of luxury furniture, fine and decorative arts joins harmoniously with the work of contemporary artists from SEEDS gallery; BDDW presents wide-ranging mediums and crafts by American artist Tyler Hays and Italian designer Achille Salvagni premieres a new film revealing the story behind his illustrious career, with many of his most iconic pieces showcased alongside. Join furniture maker Edward Barnsley Workshop at Connolly London for the unveiling of their new ‘Easy Chair’ collaboration and discover Nanushka’s Hungarian heritage in a walk-through installation exploring Kopjafa, totems that adorned warrior headstones in the Szèkely community. At Here Design, explore how the randomness of code can be harnessed to create one-of-a-kind tapestries, screen prints and ceramics.
9 – 13 May | In celebration of the 105th birthday of sculptor Henning Koppel, the Georg Jensen Silver Gallery will present some of his most iconic pieces, featuring a number of unseen archive pieces that reveal his impressive mastery. Watch demonstrations by a Georg Jensen silversmith, showcasing how masterpieces come to life, and meet the brand’s in-house archivist, who will guide you through some of their greatest designs. Book now
West London Interiors
West London is home to many of the nation’s premier interior designers and the creative talent with whom they collaborate. In celebration of the 50th year of her illustrious career, Christine Van Der Hurd invites you into her private studio to discover her inspirations and creative practices, while exploring her incredible embroidery archive first-hand. While in the area be sure to join A Rum Fellow to learn about the beautiful weaving craft behind their designs through demonstrations or the drop-in workshop, or visit Rupert Bevan, responsible for the ceilings of The Savoy Hotel, for a demonstration of the art of gilding. Interior design studio Taylor Howes also open its doors in celebration of its 30th anniversary with showcases, demonstrations and talks from artist-makers Aiveen Daly, Silverlining, Zuleika Melluish and Rock and Soar (booking required for some events). On Wednesday evening, join Roddy Clarke at Soho Home to discover the stories behind the Member Market makers, including Alighieri Jewellery; De La Jardin, Goldfinger and Tejumola Butler Adenuga.
9 – 13 May | During London Craft Week, Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour is the home of Artefact, the contemporary craft fair. Now in its third year, Artefact brings the joy of the handcrafted to designers, architects, collectors and craft-curious enthusiasts. Celebrating and championing the highest levels of creativity, see outstanding work from established and emerging makers and artists. Find out more
Weaving & Textiles in East London
East London has long thrived as a centre for London’s textile industry with Old Spitalfields Market sitting at the heart of it all. Once home to the c.19th Huguenot weavers, this year it plays host to a number of events for LCW, showcasing both weaving traditions and modern fabric applications. Discover Nancy Nicholson’s new series of rugs and wall hangings at The Mercantile, participate in a piece of communal embroidery based on a historical Huguenot silk weave pattern with Stitch School or meet Majeda Clarke, whose work preserves the traditions of hand weaving. Join Mignonette Bridal for the launch of their first zero-waste bridal collection, and learn a few hand-decorating techniques to revitalise your own clothing. Further East, enjoy ‘Colours of Home’, a community art exhibition for Aberfeldy, co-created with artist Lola Lely through low-waste, hyper-localised dyeing processes. Book ahead to join a guided tour.
12 – 14 May | The immersive exhibition showcases the art of contemporary weaving via the talents of three Sarabande studio residents – jeweller Megan Brown, interdisciplinary artist Anouska Samms and designer Martina Spetlova – whose weaving takes very different forms from human hair to woven leather and precious metals. Find out more
Innovation and Making in North London
Head North to King’s Cross for a forward-looking programme of events and exhibitions by The Mills Fabrica, whose dynamic hub accelerates innovation and collaboration amongst entrepreneurs and creatives, activists and the public, corporate brands and policy makers. The innovation gallery and concept store Fabrica X will be shining a light on biomaterials and craftsmanship – paying homage to ancient techniques while celebrating a new form of craft by scientists and bio-designers.
Fabrica Lab is hosting a series of biomaterial workshops, while Colorifix, one of The Mills Fabrica’s portfolio companies, is running two bacterial dye screen-printing workshops.
Up the road, Islington Square is a hub for workshops, demonstrations and opportunities to try your hand at a range of crafts and creative pursuits, including mood boarding with Arlo & Jacob, knife skills at Borough Kitchen and botanical pattern and printmaking at Anthropologie. Check the programme for details of a week full of demonstrations and talks by creative community Vigour and Skills from basket weaving to ceramics to flower essences.
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Don’t miss: Planet-Saving Innovations
11 May | The Mills Fabrica hosts a day of enlightening talks and panels from the innovators behind trailblazing solutions for a better planet. This year’s programme features leading innovators and brands within the fashion industry that are collectively tackling some of the biggest challenges we are facing on our planet. Speakers include Dr. Manel Torres – the inventor of the world’s first spray-on fabric and leaders in sustainable fashion from GANNI to FARFETCH and The Earthshot Prize. Book now |
Craft on the Southbank
Oxo Tower Wharf, always a haven for the craft-curious presents an active programme of events, including the Future Icons showcase. Their creative community of studio showrooms on the first and second floors is open to browse, buy, commission and learn with special demos and workshops. The Tangible Project invites you to question how important touch is to our interactions with the objects around us through an exhibition of new works that celebrate the tactile relationship of hands exploring materials. Wagumi offers the chance to try your hand at Japanese crafts with workshops in kintsugi and kokedama.
11 – 14 May | Future Icons Selects presents over 70 leading makers from across Europe in a curated industrial setting at Oxo Tower Wharf’s Bargehouse. Be immersed in multidisciplinary craft — from the functional to the purely aesthetic — chat with the artists themselves and sign up for special-edition workshops. Visit the LCW website for profiles of all the individual artist-makers taking part. Find out more
South Kensington & Brompton
The V&A Academy celebrates craftsmanship through a series of workshops, demonstrations and lectures as part of London Craft Week. Inspired by the exhibitions programme, explore the world of sculpture with demonstrations by Scott Pohlschmidt, Open Studios with Artist in Residence Rebecca Stevenson or hand sew your own silk Bok Jumeoni lucky bag with Sara Cook. A range of events celebrate metalwork and jewellery, with live demonstrations by Contemporary British Silversmiths and a wax carving masterclass with jeweller Ellis Mhairi Cameron. Fans of the V&A may also be interested to know that V&A Senior Curator, Christine Checinska gives a talk at Merchants on Long on Wednesday in relation to the recent Africa Fashion exhibition (book ahead).
From here, explore one of the many curated international exhibitions in the area. Cromwell Place, the innovative arts hub in South Kensington, hosts seven fine art and collectible design exhibitions from around the world. Crafts on Peel presents a celebration of the skills and creativity of Hong Kong’s artisans at the Royal Society of Sculptors. And on Wednesday, Business France curates French Craft Collective, an exclusive one-day event dedicated to high-end design at the Institut Français
11 May |Delve into the woodcarving world with Sky Arts’ Master Crafters, and discover the history and importance of this heritage craft with award winning woodcarver Clunie Fretton. Following the lecture, join Clunie for a live demonstration of wood carving, where she will show some of her work from the Sky Arts Master Crafters series as well as a piece carved in collaboration with the V&A. Find out more
Round the day off with the perfect drink
On Tuesday night, head to Chiswick for a distillery tour and Martini Masterclass hosted by Sipsmith and glassware designer Richard Brendon. Alongside new cocktail know-how you will leave with one of Richard Brendon’s exceptional Martini glasses. Booking required.
Or you may wish to enjoy your drink while delving deeper into the craft of shaving alongside St. James specialists Truefitt & Hill. They are partnering with Eight Lands, an organic vodka and gin brand distilled at the impressive Glenrinnes Distillery to offer you a signature cocktail alongside their masterclass. Booking required.
On Thursday, Single Malt Whisky Aberlour invites you to end the day in their pop-up speakeasy beneath the workshop of leathersmith and luggage maker Charlie Borrow. Enjoy a selection of whisky cocktails or join a leather wallet-making workshop. Booking required.
Wecandoo: A brand new craft experience
Wecandoo’s mission is to create inspiring encounters with artisans through tailor-made workshops.
Following their success in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, Wecandoo is coming to London in June 2023.
Enjoy exclusive artisan experiences with local makers, diving into their world and discovering the essence of their know-how. You will work alongside them to create your own piece of art to bring back home.
