Brilliant Botanicals: Public art rooted in place, sustainability and story
Brilliant Botanicals is a public art project from Brilliant Bamboo that brings two striking new murals to Stoke-on-Trent, honouring the city’s ceramic history while exploring the creative, sustainable possibilities of bamboo. Artists Rob Fenton and Reiko Kaneko created two different but visually connected designs, working closely throughout with Brilliant Bamboo director Gemma Thomas, from setting […]
Brilliant Bamboo’s Journey of Discovery with Local Artists and Makers
Blog by Sally Malkin In today’s fast-paced world, where few have the time to pause and reflect, it was a true privilege to gather a small group of local artists and makers to explore and experiment with bamboo. There’s something deeply grounding about working with your hands—especially with a material as humble and unpredictable as […]
Four weeks with YMCA Go getting “stuck in”
Every Tuesday evening in June, artists and makers we work with and collaborate have worked with the young people visiting YMCA through the YMCA Go project. Below is the YMCA team and young people thought about the sessions. Thank you! “Brilliant Bamboo have held four workshops with the young people visiting North Staffordshire’s YMCA, within which […]
How an Email About Bamboo Changed My Life
Blog by Sally Malkin. Back at Easter in 2022, I received an email from an arts programme I’d previously worked with. They were asking if I’d be interested in project managing a new project based on bamboo. At the time, I was recovering from the challenges of COVID and dealing with personal loss and grateful […]
Sandra’s Story: #DiscoverMiddleport
During the work Brilliant did in February and March with Middleport Matters, as part of #DiscoverMiddleport and our project Discover Bamboo, we commissioned Spencer Jenkins to co-design a bench and artwork. Spencer co-designed using place and people. Starting with a site visit and walk around looking at details on buildings, parks and streets and through […]
Bamboo dome to be constructed in Stoke-on-Trent
A bamboo dome is set to be built in a Stoke-on-Trent town centre, offering a hands-on look at natural construction and collaboration. Members of the public will be able to explore the structure on Saturday, March 22, as part of B Arts’ Saturday Series: A Place to Dwell event in Stoke’s market square. A collaboration […]
Booming Brilliant live with Neil Thomas MBE & Jörg Stamm on Monday 31 March 2025, Stoke-on-Trent
Brilliant Bamboo has the privilege to host Neil Thomas MBE, Atelier One and Jörg Stamm, the international bamboo master-craftsman for a talk about their work. Key Information: Monday 31 March 2025, 7pm – 8.30pm Location: University of Staffordshire Flaxman Film Theatre, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE Tickets: £10 booked online: http://bit.ly/3XOLwqs Join us to hear […]
Brilliant Botanicals: introducing the artists
Introducing the fantastic artists and collaborators we have the honour of working with for our 2025 Brilliant Botanicals project, we’re hoping to develop more. Rob Fenton: Rob Fenton is a Graphic Artist and Muralist whose passion lies in revitalising public spaces through his vibrant creations. With a keen eye for design and a deep understanding […]
Press Release: Community organisation seeks land in Stoke to create sustainable bamboo park
We’ve been working to create a mini-park or “parklet” for Stoke town centre, we’ve recently worked with Hannah Hiles to support us to reach more people to help find the first location. Here’s the full press release: A North Staffordshire organisation which aims to explore the use of bamboo for the benefit of communities and […]
Why Stoke (& Staffordshire)
Typed by Gemma Some of the thoughts and musings here about why here for me, and maybe for the co-directors are work in-progress, and always uncovering additional layers of our history, our present and ambition for the future to build and connect to. When writing the words and meaning for the website, I was keen […]
