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‘Otherworldly’: spiked clay sculpture by unknown Mexican ceramicist wins Loewe Foundation craft prize


Starry awards ceremony honours Andrés Anza as artisans notice increased interest in their work

On Tuesday night in Paris, a front row of Pharrell Williams, designers Rick Owens and Michèle Lamy, and Delphine Arnault, chief executive of Christian Dior, gave a standing ovation to a slightly dazed-looking young Mexican, an unknown ceramicist called Andrés Anza. This is the seventh year of the accolade, and appreciation of making and craft has changed significantly since Jonathan Anderson, creative director of the Spanish fashion house Loewe, instigated the prize in 2016. Three craftspeople received special mention at the Loewe Foundation craft prize this year: jeweller Miki Asai from Japan; and US-based Heechan Kim who used traditional wood bending used in boat building to create a cloud-like sculpture the size of an armchair stitched together with copper wire.

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Loewe Foundation