Faenza Launches Ceramics Biennial with 53 International Artists

The historic Premio Faenza, the world's longest-running ceramics prize, has been transformed into a full-fledged curatorial project called Ceramics Now, effectively establishing a new biennial in Faenza. The initiative features 53 international artists, including established masters and emerging talents, with a strong Italian presence. Seventeen curators from different countries—museum directors, critics specializing in ceramics, and artists—were invited to build a collective exhibition path that includes numerous collateral events running through summer until October. MIC director Claudia Casali explained that the decision to relaunch contemporary ceramics by focusing on unique pieces and generational dialogue was made to celebrate the prize's 60th edition and the museum's 80th anniversary. The biennial format was chosen to take stock of the field, preceded by a conference organized by ICMEA (International Association of Ceramic Art Publishers). Among the participants are Bertozzi & Casoni, pioneers in elevating ceramic sculpture within contemporary art, who usually avoid competitions but joined this curatorial biennial to affirm ceramics' place alongside other sculptural practices, fighting against its relegation to minor or craft status.