ELMAR_TRENKWALDER

International fair dedicated to contemporary ceramics takes place January 21-25 in Brussels, spotlighting Spain and honoring Austrian artist Elmar Trenkwalder

The third edition of Ceramic Brussels, the first international contemporary art fair dedicated exclusively to ceramics, takes place January 21-25, 2026 at Tour & Taxis in Brussels. The event will bring together more than 70 Belgian and international exhibitors, presenting approximately 200 artists, with Spain as the guest country of honor as part of the EUROPALIA ESPAÑA 2025-26 project.

The fair announced in September the 10 recipients of the 2026 Art Prize, selected from approximately 300 applications from across Europe. The winners are Lorie Ballage (France), Uriel Caspi (Israel), Danny Cremers (Netherlands), Kira Fröse (Germany), Ninon Hivert (France), Santiago Insignares (United States), Faye Papargyropoulou (Greece), Marie Pic (France), Angelika Stefaniak (Poland), and Walter Yu (China).

Elmar Trenkwalder is Guest of Honor

Austrian artist Elmar Trenkwalder, born in 1959, will be the guest of honor for the 2026 edition, succeeding American artist Elizabeth Jaeger. Trenkwalder, who lives and works in Innsbruck, is recognized as one of the most important figures in contemporary European sculpture.

For more than 40 years, the artist has created monumental and opulent sculptures whose ornamental richness references Baroque and Rococo architecture, while also evoking certain Asian forms. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (1978-1982), he participated in the Venice Biennale in 1990 and exhibited at the Louvre Museum in 2005.

Career and International Recognition

Trenkwalder’s career stands out for the consistency and originality of his artistic research. With solid training at the traditional Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, where he studied between 1978 and 1982, the artist developed a unique sculptural language that dialogues with European art history while incorporating Eastern references.

His participation in the prestigious Venice Biennale in 1990 marked the international recognition of his work, establishing him in the contemporary art circuit. Fifteen years later, in 2005, Trenkwalder achieved another significant milestone by exhibiting at the Louvre Museum, one of the world’s most important cultural institutions, confirming his relevance in the European sculpture landscape.

Throughout more than four decades of artistic production, Trenkwalder has dedicated himself to creating sculptures that stand out for both their monumental scale and wealth of ornamental details. His works establish a sophisticated dialogue between different aesthetic traditions, combining the decorative exuberance of European Baroque and Rococo with formal elements inspired by Asian art, thus creating a unique and recognizable visual synthesis.

“It is an honor for me to present my work at Ceramic Brussels 2026. This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to bring together a collection of historical and contemporary works and share my artistic approach with an enthusiastic audience,” stated Trenkwalder.

Spain in the Spotlight

Seven Spanish galleries will participate in the fair – Al-Tiba9, Barrera Baldán, METRÔ, Osnova, Ponce+Robles and Jorge López Galeria, and Tramuntana – which will also feature a lecture program with renowned experts. The initiative is part of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA 2025-26, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain.

The fair will pay tribute to Spanish artist Enric Mestre (1936-2025), whose contribution was significant to advancing the international visibility of contemporary ceramic sculpture. The tribute is an initiative of Ceramic Brussels, in collaboration with Modern Shapes Gallery and with support from the Spanish Embassy in Belgium.

Art Prize and Group Exhibition

The prize recipients will have their works presented in a free group exhibition during the fair, curated by Jean-Marc Dimanche, co-director of Ceramic Brussels. The scenography will be developed by a Brussels-based designer or studio, selected through a call organized in partnership with MAD Brussels (Fashion & Design Center) and Action et Service.

Prizes include a solo exhibition during the 2027 fair, international artist residency programs, solo and group exhibitions, as well as the publication of a monograph, in collaboration with the French Embassy in Belgium.

The prize jury consists of Jean-Marc Dimanche, artistic advisor and general commissioner of the De Mains De Maitres Luxembourg biennial; Wendy Gers, curator of the National Museum of Ceramics Princessehof; Jean-Charles Hameau, director of the National Adrien Dubouché Museum; Lionel Jadot, interior architect and designer; and Maral Kekejian, artistic director of EUROPALIA ESPAÑA.

“This group of artists promises to be exceptional for the third edition of our initiative. It allows us to understand the tremendous diversity of artistic approaches in the emerging European scene,” stated Dimanche.

The Prize-Winning Artists

Lorie Ballage

Lorie Ballage (France, 1994) holds an MFA from the Bergen Academy of Art and Design and explores water as material and metaphor, combining ceramics with recycled materials, sound, and scenographic narrative.

Uriel Caspi

Uriel Caspi (Israel, 1994) obtained an MFA from Alfred University in New York and worked as artist-in-residence at institutions in the United States, Europe, Israel, Taiwan, and Japan. He received the Hecht Prize for Emerging Artist (2019) and the McKnight Fellowship (2024).

Danny Cremers

Danny Cremers (Netherlands, 1984) works with hand-molded porcelain. Trained in fashion design at Central Saint Martins, he reinterprets classical forms through subtle imbalances and imperfections.

Kira Fröse

Kira Fröse (Germany, 1992) specializes in sculptures and installations made from glass, ceramics, plaster, and found objects. Her works are in the collections of LAM Museum and Jan Cunen Museum in the Netherlands.

Ninon Hivert

Ninon Hivert (France, 1995) graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris in 2021. Her ceramics are visual impressions of familiar forms – clothing, accessories, and everyday objects.

Santiago Insignares

Santiago Insignares (United States, 1986) began his career in Bogotá and studied at Muthesius Kunsthochschule in Germany. He draws inspiration from ancient and modern ruins to create sculptures that reflect on systems in crisis.

Faye Papargyropoulou

Faye Papargyropoulou (Greece, 1974) is a ceramic artist and designer based in Athens. After 20 years as creative director in advertising, she opened CERAMIC 47 studio in 2020, where she creates pieces that highlight the beauty of imperfection.

Marie Pic

Marie Pic (France, 1996) graduated with a specialization in ceramics from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Art et de Design de Limoges. She explores notions of passage and threshold through forms that combine architecture and the vegetal world.

Angelika Stefaniak

Angelika Stefaniak (Poland, 1997) graduated in sculpture from the Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. Her practice combines ceramics and textiles in an intuitive process, seeking beauty in the grotesque. She won the OP_YOUNG 2024 program.

Walter Yu

Walter Yu (China, 1989) was born in China and studied in Beijing and Berlin. He explores the intersection between classical East Asian aesthetics and contemporary visual narrative, expanding his practice from painting to ceramics and sculpture.

Schedule and Tickets

The VIP and press preview takes place on January 21, by invitation only. Public days are January 22-25, Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost 20 euros.

The fair has the support of Puilaetco, a Quintet Private Bank, as main partner. The Standard Brussels is the official hotel partner, offering exclusive rates for visitors.