Noe Kuremoto is bringing three new ceramic series to PAD London 2026, giving collectors sculptural vessels that connect Japanese folklore with her reflections on motherhood. The east London artist will show at Pik'd Booth B7 and Galerie Boketto Booth A20.
Project Crane Wife uses tall necks, long handles and a deliberate tear across three black stoneware pieces, turning an old folk tale into vessel-like figures. Jōmon looks back to Japanese fertility vessels from 14,000 to 300 BCE and recasts them for women navigating motherhood and work. A calligraphy-based body of black unglazed forms comes from making each piece in one gesture.
PAD London's Berkeley Square setting from October 13 to 18 puts those narrative ceramics in front of design buyers who collect across art and craft. The historical reach of Jōmon and the maternal framing of the newer works widen ceramics beyond decor into cultural storytelling.
Image Credit: PIK'D / PAD London, Noe Kuremoto
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Folklore-inspired Ceramics
- Mythic references embedded in sculptural vessels create space for collectible objects that function as cultural narratives rather than conventional decor.
- Maternal Design Narratives
- Personal reflections on motherhood are reshaping craft into emotionally resonant design, opening new value around identity-led collectible art.
- Gesture-made Objects
- Single-motion making techniques highlight process as a premium aesthetic, supporting demand for expressive pieces with visible human authorship.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Collectible Design
- Crossovers between art, craft and functional form are expanding the market for limited-edition objects with strong storytelling appeal.
- Ceramics and Pottery
- Ancient vessel traditions and contemporary social themes are giving ceramic studios fresh routes into cultural relevance and collector interest.
- Art Fairs
- Curated design fairs provide influential platforms where narrative craft can reach buyers seeking distinctive, heritage-rich contemporary works.
