Ikon presents Break the Mould, the final chapter in a trilogy exploring craft, art‑school pedagogies and contemporary art practice. Centring ceramics as a space for experimentation, the exhibition turns the gallery into a live studio where visitors encounter artists working on site and take part in process‑led activities.

The exhibition features resident artists Jack Ky Tan, Halima Cassell and Roo Dhissou, alongside works by Kara Chin, Mark Essen and Laurie Ramsell, each pushing the boundaries of clay and material‑led practice. Two Birmingham ceramics organisations — Sundragon Community Pottery and Modern Clay — also take part, connecting local making communities with contemporary art.

Showcasing speculative rituals, medieval Birmingham references, “future fossil” objects and community‑built structures, Break the Mould celebrates clay as a transformative material linking past traditions with future possibilities.