The Korean ceramist triumphed over 30 finalists, winning the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize and €50,000 for his work Strata of Illusion
The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize has been an annual fixture since 2016, established to celebrate excellence and innovation in modern craft. It serves as a tribute to the house’s heritage, which dates back to 1846, when the maison began as a collective craft workshop. The competition is formidable; this year alone, more than 5,100 submissions were received from 133 countries, with only 30 finalists making the shortlist before a single winner was chosen by a distinguished jury.
Here, Korean ceramist Jongjin Park triumphed with his ability to challenge expectations of what ceramics can be. His work stood out by meeting the jury’s rigorous criteria for technical accomplishment, skill, innovation, and artistic vision.
At first glance, the piece appears to be a solid, heavy mass. But the story of its creation is actually one of delicate, controlled disappearance.
Park’s process is a sophisticated gamble with the elements. He builds his forms by layering thousands of sheets of paper, each meticulously brushed with coloured porcelain slip. Once the piece enters the kiln, the paper burns away entirely, leaving the porcelain to respond to heat and gravity.
What remains is a structure that has “slumped” into its final state–an honest imperfection that the jury found completely captivating. They noted that while the work is technically ceramic, it feels as though it belongs to several worlds: the way it uses air to hold its shape recalls glassblowing, while the rhythmic layering of the material gestures toward the art of bookbinding.
While Park took the top honour, the jury–which included figures such as Patricia Urquiola and creative directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez–also awarded two special mentions to Baba Tree Master Weavers & Álvaro Catalán de Ocón and Graziano Visintin for their respective submissions, with each receiving €5,000.
Though the competition has ended, visitors can see the 30 shortlisted works at the National Gallery Singapore from 13 May to 14 June 2026. The exhibition is also available online and will be documented in an exhibition catalogue.
