We’re thrilled to announce that Charly Blackburn has been selected as our next Potter in Residence!
Starting in September 2025, Charly will become the second artist to take on the role, building on the spirit of creativity and innovation at County Hall Pottery.
We were truly overwhelmed by the incredible response to the callout, receiving over a hundred applications from talented artists around the world. Our thanks to everyone who applied – it was a joy to witness the breadth, brilliance, and passion reflected across the submissions.
About Charly Blackburn
Charly Blackburn originates from The Fens, dubbed the UK’s agricultural flatlands. She fled to the city to study Performance Design at Central Saint Martins, later receiving a scholarship to complete a Master’s in Ceramics & Glass at the Royal College of Art.
Charly Blackburn sees a disconnect between the resource superpowers that modern technology depends on and our collective material intelligence. Through ceramic sculptures and material experiments, she celebrates the metals and minerals that are not only responsible for mind-blowing technological advancements but similarly for fascinating ceramic transformations.
Her work has been exhibited at Messums Gallery and the Art Institute of Chicago (in collaboration with Himali Singh Soin), and she has co-curated two geological art exhibitions: Seismic Mother and Bog Bodies. Alongside her studies, Blackburn has worked as a technical fabricator, design mentor, and art conservator, with expertise that continue to inform and enrich her ceramic practice.
In her recent funded project Developing Rare Earth Elements in Ceramic Glazing, Blackburn seeks to celebrate the rare earths whilst critically examining their dominance in modern society. She is fascinated by their magical, luminescent and light-reactive properties, and delivers tangible and colourful connection through her glazed ceramic pieces.
We’ll be sharing more about Charly, her creative journey, and her exciting plans for County Hall Pottery in the months ahead. We can’t wait to see what Charly creates during their time with us!
About the Residency
Our Potter in Residence programme is designed to support talented ceramic artists, designers, and potters in developing their practice, building meaningful professional connections, and becoming part of a vibrant, collaborative community of creatives.
This unique opportunity provides the time, space, and resources to explore new ideas, experiment with techniques, and create an original body of work – all leading up to a dedicated solo exhibition at the end of the residency.
Applications will open for the 2026-2027 residency in Spring 2026. For more information about County Hall Pottery, please contact gallery@countyhallpottery.com.