Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale Opens on the 17th... 45 Days of Events in Icheon, Gwangju, and Yeoju

The Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale (GCB) opens on September 17.

On this day at 7 p.m., Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Ceramic Foundation will hold the opening ceremony for the '2026 Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale' at the outdoor plaza of the Gyeonggi Ceramic Museum in Icheon. The biennale will then take place from September 18 to November 1 for 45 days in Icheon, Gwangju, Yeoju, and throughout various locations in Gyeonggi Province.

Celebrating its 13th edition this year, the Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale is the only biennale in Korea dedicated to ceramic art. Under the theme of "Earth Makes," more than 100 artists from Korea and abroad will participate, showcasing a wide variety of works.

Over 1,000 people will attend the opening ceremony, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, participating artists from Korea and overseas, the speaker of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, members of the National Assembly, the Mayor of Icheon, officials from relevant organizations, and local residents. The event will feature performances by singers Ali and Sohyang, a parade of participating artists and students from the Korea Ceramic High School, and both international and domestic competition awards ceremonies.

2026 Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale Poster

Notably, a media façade composed of four chapters, from "Earth Awakens" to "Earth Makes," will depict the process of life emerging from soil and being transformed into ceramics through the hands of artisans. In the international competition, the grand prize will go to the German artist David Lauer, and in the domestic competition held 17 days earlier, the grand prize will be awarded to artist Woo Eun-joo.

The main event will include special exhibitions, theme exhibitions, international and domestic competitions, and a collection exhibition. In addition, scholarly programs such as international ceramic symposiums and workshops, as well as a children's biennale, traveling biennale, ceramic market, and educational and hands-on experiences will provide a diverse array of participatory activities for visitors.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Naver Reservation and Ticketlink, or on-site. The regular pass is 11,000 won (7,000 won for advance purchase), while individual tickets are 6,000 won for Icheon and 4,000 won each for Gwangju and Yeoju (advance purchase: 3,500 won and 2,500 won, respectively). Details on discounts, free admission, and specific program information are available on the Gyeonggi Ceramic Biennale or Korea Ceramic Foundation websites.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.