LONDON.- In recent years, the ceramics world has exploded any lazy preconceptions of being a crafty backwater, with booming markets and rising demand for everything from unique, hand crafted tableware to highly collectable art pieces. Returning for its 15th year this Spring, the hotly anticipated Ceramic Art London is the ultimate fair in which to see and buy the finest ceramics being made in the world today.

Organised by the Craft Potters Association who have invited over 90 of the best makers from around the world - including from the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain and as far afield as South Korea and Japan - the fair takes place in the spacious central concourse of Central Saint Martins’ Grade 2 listed victorian granary building. Visitors can also take time out from shopping and meeting the makers to attend the always fascinating ClayTalks series which, this year, features a keynote speech by V&A Director Tristram Hunt and an appearance by celebrated ceramic artist Kate Malone. In a new event for 2019, visitors get to see sparks fly at The Kiln House, a temporary outdoor kiln which will be located at the nearby Skip Garden.

This year sees a shift towards showcasing more work by makers whose practices are deeply rooted in the sculptural. First time exhibitors to look out for include self-taught Korean ceramist Miho Inagaki, whose textural, wall-based mesh works resemble cracked earth and Paula Bastiaansen, whose translucent porcelain creations have an ethereal fragility about them.

Among the returning artists are David Binns, who draws on contemporary architecture and natural forms to create expertly glazed vessels in gorgeous hues of jade, Nuala O’Donovan, whose anemone-like forms are inspired by nature’s irregular beauty and Sewon Minn with her gloriously eccentric designs. Rowena Brown presents her ceramics house sets inspired by abandoned crofters' cottages in the Hebrides, while the multi-award winning Grainne Watts returns with her sensually shaped and intensely coloured vessels and sculptures.

Prices start at £27 for one of Yuta Segawa’s miniature vases, or £35 for one of Elly Wall’s hand painted pastel cups, to £6.5K for one of Ashraf Hanna’s sublime vessels.

ClayTalks, a dynamic talks series featuring prestigious names from the world of ceramics and beyond, is programmed in partnership with Central Saint Martins and takes place throughout the weekend. Booking in advance is essential for this popular series. Past speakers have included Grayson Perry, Keith Brymer Jones and Phoebe Cummings. ClayTalks highlights include a Keynote Address by V&A director Tristram Hunt, and talks by celebrated ceramic artist and Great Pottery Throwdown judge Kate Malone, design and craft writer Grant Gibson, ceramic artist Mella Shaw, gallerist Joanna Bird, ceramics collector Preston Fitzgerald, terracotta specialists Darwen Terracotta and artist and maker collective Haptic Tacit.

Over the weekend, The Kiln House - located at The Skip Garden, the sustainable urban garden adjacent to Central Saint Martins - offers visitors the chance to witness ceramic firing in an outdoor setting.