Tom Sachs has opened a new exhibition titled “A Good Shelf” at Thaddaeus Ropac’s London gallery during Frieze Week, featuring NASA-emblazoned ceramics inspired by Japanese tea bowls and space travel. The show runs through December 20 and includes hand-formed ceramics displayed on shelves made from rough materials like cinderblock and plywood. This marks Sachs’s return to the spotlight after a 2023 scandal in which former studio staff accused him of creating a toxic workplace, leading Nike to pause its sneaker partnership with the artist; the partnership resumed in September 2024.
This exhibition matters because it signals Sachs’s professional comeback and continued influence as a major contemporary artist who operates on a large scale, with a studio team and a track record of ambitious works. His exploration of ceramics as a medium for perfection and ritual reflects a broader trend among artists turning to craft and process-oriented practices. The show also underscores the resilience of Sachs’s career despite controversy, and his ability to maintain relationships with top-tier galleries like Thaddaeus Ropac, which has locations in London, Seoul, and elsewhere.