---

Last weekend, the twenty-sixth edition of Art Rotterdam is upon us. In the big and buzzing harbor city of Rotterdam, we find ourselves in a new location for this art fair: Ahoy Rotterdam. Dutch art enthusiasts gather to see the best of contemporary art, both emerging and established. What sets this art fair apart? Aside from being a major commercial event, it also makes significant space for fresh talent. The Prospects area brings these new voices forward - artists who received a grant from the Mondriaan Fonds to research and produce new work.


Two young prospects caught my eye. One of them, Liza Houben, presented her installation Rhea. In a corten steel basin stands a three-meter-high sculpture of a woman carrying a sleeping baby (a self-portrait?). Made of fired clay pieces, the form is partially covered in wet clay. A pump system circulates clay slip over the figure, gradually eroding the outer layer and revealing the fired sculpture beneath. Also captivating was the magic realist installation by Bas Oussoren. He displays a huge pile of ceramic haddocks—dead fish casually tossed beside a massive lamppost engraved with the phrase: Only beauty can save the world (a quote from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov). On the ground, slick eels spell out words. Bas’s work feels like an illogical riddle, impossible to solve—but deeply satisfying to behold.


I was also struck by the number of humorous artworks this year. While great art isn’t necessarily serious, multiple booths did make me giggle — no small feat in the realm of visual art. One booth featured a playable fighting game where gallerists, artists, curators, and critics battle each other to the death. Funny art: this is a trend I strongly support.


This year’s Art Rotterdam reflects the evolving place of ceramics in contemporary art. Ceramics has found a natural place among artists’ chosen materials and clay is now a tool to tell stories, no longer just a commercial commodity. Many artists have honed their skills over the past five to ten years, and now I see ceramic elements integrated into installations and multi-material works. It has become a beautifully tactile medium — loved by artists and visitors alike.

---

Liza Houben

Eijsden, Netherlands

Liza Houben

Galerie Fleur & Wouter

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Tom Volkaert

Bas Oussoren

Utrecht, Netherlands

Bas Oussoren

Galerie Gerhard Hofland

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Johan Tahon

Galerie Fontana

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Carolein Smit | Asya Marakulina | Inez de Brauw | Martine Feipel | Jean Bechameil

Galerie Mieke van Schaijk

's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

Wobbe Micha

Gallery Vriend van Bavink

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Koos Buster

---

CONTRIBUTOR

STAY TUNED: An In the Studio feature exploring Jonat Deelstra’s ceramics is coming soon!

---

Interested in future fair coverage? Up next is Future Fair and Freize! Want to get involved? Visit our CONNECT pageto learn more about becoming a contributor!

Subscribeto our newsletter for the latest updates!