The 2026 Loewe Craft Prize Show Is Here
The top prize goes to South Korean ceramicist Jongjin Park for his genre-defying work, “Strata of Illusion.”
Summary
- South Korean ceramicist Jongjin Park has been awarded the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize for his work, “Strata of Illusion” (2025)
- The chair-like piece has roots in ceramics, while evoking elements and traditions of glassblowing and bookbinding, which won over the judges
- “Strata of Illusion” and all 30 shortlisted works will go up at the National Singapore Gallery in a special showcase running through June 14
The annual Loewe Foundation Craft Prize exhibition has arrived in Singapore and South Korean ceramicist Jongjin Park is taking home the competition’s top prize. You can catch a closer look at Park’s winning work, “Strata of Illusion” (2025), mounted beside all 30 shortlisted works, in a special showcase now on view at the National Gallery Singapore through June 14.
The finalists were selected from a 5,100-piece pool of woodwork, furniture, bookbinding, glass, jewelry, textile pieces and ceramics by artists from 133 countries and regions. “Strata of Illusion” won over the jury for its unexpected sculptural presence and ability to “confound expectations of what ceramics can be.”
The chair-like composition is made from thousands of sheets of paper, coated in porcelain slip and laid atop one another. When fired at high temperatures, paper burns away and gravity takes hold, causing the center to collapse. Additionally, Park’s use of air nods to glassblowing traditions, while the meticulous layering evokes bookbinding.
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The jury – which includes architect Frida Escobedo, Loewe’s creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, and the 2025 Prize winner, Kunimasa Aoki – sought works that proved excellence in technical finesse, innovation and artistic vision. “Frafra Tapestry” (2024), the collaborative work by Spanish designer Álvaro Catalán de Ocón’s and Ghanaian artisanal collective Baba Tree Master Weavers, alongside the two-necklace “Collier” (2025) by Italian jewelry artist Graziano Visintin were also awarded special mentions.
“Craft has been at the heart of LOEWE since the House was founded 180 years ago. Across each of the shortlisted works, we encountered an extraordinary sense of commitment, creativity, and innovation. Together, they stand as a powerful testament to the enduring possibilities of making,” wrote McCollough and Hernandez.
The 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize showcase is now on view in Singapore. Head to the competition’s website to learn more about the works.
National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew’s Road,
Singapore 178957
