artpress2 n°31 explores the ceramic revival in contemporary art

The editorial of artpress2 n°31 'Céramique au-delà de la céramique' examines the unexpected resurgence of ceramics in contemporary art. A decade ago, art students struggled to find specialized ceramic training, but now ceramics are ubiquitous in exhibitions, biennials, and fairs, ranging from delicate miniatures to monumental works. The issue contextualizes this 'return to ceramics' within art history since the late 19th century, citing Gauguin, Bauhaus artists, and Lucio Fontana, who worked in ceramics alongside his spatialism research, creating little-known religious pieces. The editorial notes that specialized criticism on contemporary ceramics is more developed in the Anglo-Saxon world, likely due to the legacy of William Morris's Arts and Crafts movement. It surveys production sites in Europe and the US, from major institutions like the Manufacture de Sèvres to smaller, alternative residency and exhibition spaces, which are expanding alongside ceramic education. Artists are drawn to the material's flexibility, density, and sensuality, as well as its capacity for personal expression and the element of chance in firing. The issue traces the careers of ceramic artists across generations, showing how ceramics can become painting, sculpture, installation, performance, or video, often embracing error and accident to push beyond the medium's limits.