Undergrowth at County Hall Pottery: A material exploration into the hidden forces of the natural world.

Unearthing the metaphorical and material potential of the ecological layer beneath taller plants and trees, County Hall Pottery presents Undergrowth - on display until the 8 March 2026.

Bringing together ceramic and metal works in a tactile, multi-dimensional installation, this group exhibition considers undergrowth as both a biological system and a metaphor for the hidden forces that quietly shape our world.

In ecological terms, undergrowth is vital to biodiversity. It provides critical shelter and nourishment for wildlife and plays a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient recycling. Metaphorically, it represents the often overlooked strata of existence - ideas, processes and systems that operate beneath the surface, subtly but profoundly influencing their environment.

Unfolding across wall, floor and plinth-based works, the exhibiting pieces in Undergrowth form an immersive landscape that visitors can navigate from multiple viewpoints. Some pieces evoke an “earth layer,” incorporating metal grids that allow sightlines above and below, drawing attention to what is visible and what is concealed.

The installation proposes a space that feels interconnected and evolving, encouraging reflection on the unseen structures - ecological, material and conceptual - that underpin both the artworks and the wider environment.

Exhibiting Artists include Elizabeth Jackson - one of the curators of Ungrowth - who graduated from the Royal College of Art with an MA in Ceramics & Glass. Her work has been exhibited at the British Ceramic Biennial and she was a finalist for the 2021 Ingram Prize.

At the core of her practice is an interest in embodied forms of knowledge and the transformation of clay through processes that resist easy verbal explanation, instead becoming activated through physical and sensory engagement.

Also featured is Emily Stapleton-Jefferis, an artist working between drawing and making, with a particular focus on ceramics. Curator of Undergrowth, she also holds an MA in Ceramics & Glass from the Royal College of Art and has exhibited at venues including Kew Gardens, the British Ceramic Biennial and MK Calling. Drawing inspiration from the human body alongside botanical and geological forms, she zooms in on the overlooked and unseen, revealing the wonder, strangeness and beauty that exist just out of sight.

Additional exhibiting artists include Jo Pearl, Lisa Hellrup, Meichen Chen, Mingshu Li, Raphael Emine, Safia Hijos and Sisse Holst Pedersen.

You can catch Undergrowth on display from now until 8 March 2026 at County Hall Pottery. Click here to discover more about its impressive roster of exhibitors.