Marie Pic

Marie Pic, trained at ENSAD Limoges, wins Art Prize 2026 with sculptures blending architecture and nature

French ceramicist Marie Pic, was one of ten laureates of the Art Prize 2026, announced during the ceramic brussels fair, held January 21-25 at the Tour & Taxis complex in Brussels. The prize includes a solo exhibition at the 2027 edition of the event, as well as artist residencies and other opportunities to be detailed soon.

Pic is part of the curated group show of prize winners, with scenography developed in partnership with mad.brussels and actionetservice. The exhibition runs through January 25.

Photo courtesy Ceramic Brussels

The artist explores concepts of passage and threshold through sculptural forms combining architectural and vegetal elements. Her bas-relief doors and gateways merge formal rigor with organic motifs inspired by Art Nouveau and 17th-century jewelry, where ornament becomes structure.

A 2021 graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Art et Design de Limoges with a specialization in ceramics, Pic has been a resident at the CAP Saint-Fons workshops in France since 2024. Her work is also on view in a solo exhibition at Le Cap Centre d’Art atelier from January 11 through February 21.

French ceramic tradition

Marie Pic’s training at ENSAD Limoges reflects the strong ceramic tradition of the French city. Located in Limoges, known for its historic ceramic production, the school is a public higher education institution under the direct supervision of the French Ministry of Culture. The institution is the heir to the École Nationale d’Art Décoratif, established in 1881, and the municipal art school created in 1868 by Adrien Dubouché, with the first courses taught in 1867.

Pic’s work dialogues with this heritage by combining technical mastery of ceramics with a contemporary conceptual approach. Her bas-relief pieces, which blend architecture and vegetal elements, demonstrate both the formal rigor and exploration of ornamentation that characterize French decorative tradition, especially the influence of Art Nouveau and 17th-century jewelry.

The institution is one of ten national art schools under direct supervision of the Ministry of Culture. It offers two main degrees: the DNA (Diplôme National d’Art), equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, with a three-year duration, and the DNSEP (Diplôme National Supérieur d’Expression Plastique), equivalent to a master’s degree, with a five-year duration.

Approximately 195 students receive training in Art and Object Design options, with the possibility of validating a ceramics specialization in each option. ENSAD Limoges has a specialized library in fine arts and design, with a collection of more than 15,000 volumes and about 70 periodicals. The school also participates in the Erasmus+ program, promoting international mobility for students and faculty.

The Ceramic Brussels fair

In its third edition, ceramic brussels has established itself as the leading international platform dedicated exclusively to contemporary ceramics. The event brought together 75 Belgian and international galleries presenting works by more than 200 artists from approximately 30 countries.

Ceramic Brussels 2026

The 2025 edition of the fair received 17,840 visitors. For 2026, organizers expected around 20,000 attendees.

Spain was the guest country of honor for this edition, with seven Spanish galleries participating as part of the EUROPALIA ESPAÑA 2025-26 festival. Austrian artist Elmar Trenkwalder was special guest, with an exhibition presented at the fair’s entrance in collaboration with Galerie Bernard Jordan.

In addition to exhibitions, the fair offered programming with 12 talks over three days, featuring 45 speakers from ten countries. Visitors could also access four partner institutions, including Centrale for contemporary art and BPS22.

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