Collect returns to Somerset House, London, UK, from 27 February to 1 March for its 22nd edition. Organised by ECA member Crafts Council UK, the fair brings together galleries, makers and institutions from across the world, offering a clear snapshot of current directions in contemporary craft and collectible design.
The focus of the fair is moving towards material intelligence, where the story behind the substance is just as vital as the object itself. Technical excellence remains a given, but greater attention is paid to where materials come from, how they are used and what they carry with them.
Lacquer, usually associated with tradition, emerges as a key material across the fair. It appears in new forms and scales, pushed beyond functional vessels into sculptural and experimental territory. Collectible design continues to blur the boundaries between craft, design and art. Furniture and domestic objects made from reused and unexpected materials are feature prominently, while agricultural fibres, deadstock textiles, timber offcuts and recycled paper are transformed into pieces that speak quietly about value, waste and care.
This edition sees a strong presence from the ECA network. The Design & Crafts Council Ireland presents Four Seasons, a curated showcase of sixteen makers, including Emer Roberts and Zelouf & Bell, that explores nature’s cycles through a rigorous balance of innovation and material understanding. Simultaneously, the Polish Cultural Institute debuts Metamorphosis, a dynamic presentation challenging perceptions of Polish making; with members of the ECA memeber Nów. New Craft Poland represented here, with Anna Bera’s sculptural woodworks and Agata Marchlewicz’s contemporary paper cut-outs highlighting the bold conceptual edge of the local sector.
In the Collect Open, large-scale installations turn to the earth itself. Ancient wood, mineral forms and reactive glazes are used to explore themes of time, extraction and ecology. Material becomes a narrative. While the making process is visible, it is often deliberately left unresolved.
Collect 2026 also brings a public programme of talks and discussions. Themes include contemporary lacquer, the relationship between craft and architecture, and the growing role of makers in shaping built environments.
photo: Collect / CCUK
