Mark Essen

Deritend Revival 2026 Wheat-pasted billboard 6.13 H × 3.53 W This work uses a photograph from Birmingham Museums Trust that has been released under an open access licence: Creative Commons 0. This manipulated photograph shows a jug known as Deritend Ware made around the 13th century in digbeth, which was excavated at Weoley Castle and is currently on display in the museum. Analysis of the pot has indicated that the red clay is likely local, dug from Digbeth, while the white clay slip decoration originates from the London area. This has been interpreted as evidence that potters travelled from London area to Birmingham to produce pottery. I interpret this work as an auto Portrait: i feel the medieval ghosts that haunt me are the footsteps of 700 years ago. This new work for ikon gallery is a reimagined interpretation shifting format into a paste up which is a formal element of the digbeth contemporary landscape. This work is currently on show in the break the mould exhibition at Ikon gallery, Birmingham until September.

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be participating in Break the Mould, a major new exhibition at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham. The exhibition launches on Tuesday 24 March 2026, 5–7pm, with the galleries open to the public from Wednesday 25 March 2026 through to 6 September 2026. This is the final chapter in Ikon's trilogy on craft, art school pedagogies, and contemporary practice, centred on ceramics. Clay as a site for bold experimentation, challenging boundaries between traditional craft and radical contemporary approaches. The gallery transforms into a living laboratory: resident artists working live in the space, collaborative making, public engagement sessions, and works that rethink what ceramics can achieve. For me this show marks the start of a new body of work, a contemporary interpretation of Deritend ware, the medieval pottery produced in Digbeth, Birmingham, during the 12th and 13th centuries. Drawing directly from museum archives and the location of Modern Clay in Digbeth, I'm rethinking the area as a kind of living museum, with ceramics at the forefront of conversations around place, labour, and degrowth. It's exciting to bring these threads into the gallery context alongside such inspiring company. Pleased to show new commissioned work alongside brilliant artists: Kara Chin, Laurie Ramsell, resident ceramicists Halima Cassell, Roo Dhissou, Jack Ky Tan. Come join the launch on the 24th Grateful for all the support along the way — means everything. See you in Brum #BreakTheMould #Ceramics #IkonGallery #ModernClay #DeritendWare #BirminghamArt #ContemporaryCeramics #Digbeth #Clay

Big foot 2014 I've recently been returning to this work for some new work I'm making to be shown next month. Funny old world isn't it ?

Mark Essen, Utopia Bricks, 2026

I put all these images of works and motifs I've made or gathered over the past year, I was going to make a publication but I thought myself out of it. Available for download via my website on the writing page. Still trying to figure out what personality my work will take.

an old pot which i think i've lost or gave it away to someone.

showing new work with @division_of_labour at @minor.attractions - upper terrace f o r g e t - m e - no t s forget me nots (2025). It consists of a series of 27 hand-thrown tea bowls inscribed with the names of galleries that have closed, recalled from the artist’s memory. Opens this week Thanks x

So excited to be returning to Minor Attractions during Frieze Week, proud to be working with Mark Essen who will be presenting ‘forget me nots’ (2025) a series of tea-bowls celebrating and commemorating defunct and closed galleries from the artists memory, the work was inspired by a conversation with the gallerist about the art-market and a small collection of business cards collected over time as a request from a gallery artist. (image 3.) Images: 1. Untitled (blue foot) ceramic slip cast of the artists foot. Size 8, Mark Essen 2. Untitled (pile of blue feet) Mark Essen Clay feet, dimensions variable 3. Called Cards (2013-ongoing) by Ned James. Toy soldier (not pictured - facsimile of blue foot paperweight) on card, dimensions variable. 4. (WIP) forget me nots (2025 - ongoing) 27 clay tea-bowls- pictured #1. Vilma Gold

Some more new things i made this summer.

Some new things i made this summer.

Thinking and looking back to 2015 a project by Robert Rush where he built a wood fire kiln in the grounds of the CASS Sculpture Park, the main idea being an open source sculpture in collaboration with the artist Alex Hoda. I was lucky to be invited along for the ride and spent the summer firing the kiln with Robbie. First picture is during the building and is a test of the chimney, It worked. I also met Mike and Carol Francis who help devise the built. Absolute stalwart Husband and Wife team, so many great stories they had, sadly Mike is no longer with us but his stories will always remain with me. Carol also made the most incredible tile just before we closed the kiln up for firing. She made it in what seemed about 30 seconds and was probably one of my favourites things to come from the kiln, I cant find a photo of it. I’ll upload some more photos of the work from this later on. Wood fired kilns are the best, its like flying first class once you get the taste you want every firing to be like that. If anyone wants to built a wood fired kiln in the midlands please let me know, I’m desperate.

Very pleased to be a part of the shortlist for this year's mark tanner prize. An award with action,. importance and a dedication to material and sculpture. I'd like to acknowledge every artist that applied for this, it's very difficult to be an artist, even to make an application for these opportunities, this is my 5th or 6th time of applying and probably my last. It makes a change from the ricochet of rejection. Thank you to the judges for including me on the shortlist.