The CLAY Collection
Since the opening in 1994, the museum has established a unique collection of Danish and international ceramic art – the only one of its kind in the Nordic region.
Unlike most museums, CLAY was not based on a collection but on the initiative of active ceramists and artists in the group called Clay Today. However, since 1998 the museum´s collection has been immensely extended due to generous contributions from private owners, funds and CLAY Friends. It now holds a large collection of unique studio ceramics, artists’ ceramics, pottery and ceramic design.
Recent donations are amongst others a relief by Asger Jorn, acquired in 2017 with generous support from the New Carlsberg Foundation.
The same year a large scale exhibition resulted in 15 new ceramic works for the museum collection created by Danish and Norwegian artists and ceramists. Some of the sculptures are exhibited in the museum park and in Middelfart city. This project was supported by the A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation.
Combined, the Royal Copenhagen Collection, PEM, Erik Veistrup and the CLAY Collection tell the story of unique modern and contemporary ceramic art and more than 240 years of world class manufacturing of porcelain, stoneware and faience.
Caption: Robert (Bob) Shay: “Object”. Ca. 1994. Mixed media. Photo: Ole Akhøj.
The work is registered as the first in the museum’s own collection
The work is registered as the first in the museum’s own collection