Shaping Light and Form: Aussies Shortlisted for the 2026 Loewe Craft Prize

Words by Lynn Mathuthu

Liam Fleming and Kirstie Rea are two Australian artists who have been shortlisted for the Loewe Foundation’s 2026 Craft Prize. This year’s finalists were selected from more than 5,100 submissions representing over 130 countries and regions, with works spanning a range of mediums, including woodwork, ceramics and glass. Fleming’s practice is rooted in deconstructing pre-existing ideas of perfection. Through utilising industrial glassblowing techniques, he builds and deconstructs structures. His work aims to bridge the conversation between art, architecture and design, drawing inspiration from diverse forms.

Liam Fleming

Similarly, Rea’s work experiments with the structural possibilities of glass. With each piece representing an abstraction of time, place and light, she questions the tension between nature and object. Both artists engage with the gallery space, inviting viewers to reconsider their perception of object and reality. Drawing significant inspiration from their surroundings, each work appears foreign and familiar at the same time.

Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Loewe’s creative directors, continue to carry forward the Loewe Foundation, established in 1988 by Enrique Loewe. Today, under the direction of his daughter, Sheila Loewe, the Foundation continues to promote creativity, organise educational programs, and protect cultural heritage across the fields of art, craft, design, photography, poetry and dance. The works submitted by both Fleming and Rea align closely with the Foundation’s ethos, promoting craftsmanship, design and creativity. The winner of the Loewe Craft Prize will be announced on 12 May 2026, and all finalist works will be exhibited at the National Gallery of Singapore from 13 May to June 2026.