BCK Biennale 2026: Contemporary Ceramics in Rhodes
BCK Biennale 2026 features works by 42 artists from 18 nations across historic sites in Rhodes, Greece, running through Oct 31, 2026.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The second Biennale of Contemporary Keramics (BCK) showcases modern ceramics in Rhodes, Greece.
- Brings together 42 artists from 18 countries across UNESCO World Heritage historic sites.
- Exhibition venues include the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes and four other historical locations.
- Tülay Kulbay wins First Prize while local and national ceramic masters receive lifetime honors.
The second Biennale of Contemporary Keramics (BCK) has brought 42 artists from 18 countries into the Medieval City of Rhodes, Greece, positioning today’s ceramic practices directly inside archaeological and historic sites across the UNESCO World Heritage city. Curated by Stamatia Dimitrakopoulou, Loukia Thomopoulou, and Anissa Touati, the exhibition places recent artistic production into conversation with layered historical architecture.
Entitled Where the Day Starts, the exhibition runs through October 31st, 2026. Artworks are presented across five distinct venues, including the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, the Armoury de Milly, the Decorative Arts Collection of Rhodes, Our Lady of the Castle, and Kleovoulou Square at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Taking Rhodes as its point of departure, the exhibition draws inspiration from the island’s geography, light, and history. The title refers to Rhodes as the easternmost edge of Greece where the day begins, while the Sun serves as the conceptual anchor for the 2026 edition, connecting diverse ceramic approaches through an emphasis on place, perception, and transformation.
“The Biennale connects a material with a long history in the Mediterranean to artists working through questions of movement, belonging, and cultural memory.”
BCK Biennale 2026 Curators
Across the five venues, works by emerging and established artists address key themes such as memory, identity, migration, and change. The range of practices expands traditional boundaries of contemporary ceramics, moving far beyond the vessel toward sculpture, installation, performance, and spatial interventions.
Placing contemporary ceramic art in direct proximity to the ancient and medieval material culture of Rhodes creates a powerful dialogue between different eras. The exhibition challenges visitors to experience historical architecture through the lens of modern artistic interventions, highlighting how geography and Mediterranean heritage continue to shape contemporary material culture.
The 2026 edition also highlights the connection between international practices and Greece’s existing ceramic culture. Tülay Kulbay was awarded the Biennale’s First Prize, with Elysia Athanatos and Lynn Kodeih receiving Honorary Mentions. Lifetime contribution awards were presented to Kostas Neofytou of Rhodes for his work on Rhodian ceramic identity and Menandros Papadopoulos of Athens for his teaching career.
The Biennale of Contemporary Keramics 2026 remains on view in the Medieval City of Rhodes through October 31st, 2026, offering visitors a unique encounter between new ceramic practices and historic monuments.
Source: designboom
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