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Situated in Beirut, PIK’D Gallery represents leading international talent highlighting ceramics and glass, Beirut was host to a tragic explosion back in August 2020 impacting the social and economic landscape. In light of this, how can one rethink the gallery format once a physical space is lost?


Nestled in the heart of Beirut, PIK’D Gallery endured drastic damage in the aftermath of the devastating August 4 port explosion that demolished its premises. Leaving the city in ruins, the massive incident took its toll on the Lebanese population socially, psychologically and economically, making it extremely difficult for businesses to survive, let alone thrive. Despite the challenging circumstances, the PIK’D team relied on the inherent passion for art and devotion to our resident artists to pick up the pieces and keep going. We are currently working on rebuilding our space and looking forward to the re-opening.

We’ve heard you are moving to Paris, looking ahead, what adaptations have you made and what recent updates can you share with us moving forward, supporting your artists?


Our home got gravely destroyed in the blast. My son had to be hospitalized on the spot and I was severely injured after both my arms got badly wounded and fractured due to the severity of the explosion, which resulted in a handicap in my right hand. My family and I therefore temporarily relocated to Paris as the reconstruction works and long recovery period were underway. All the work was carried out by remotely during that time. My team and I remained active throughout in the quest for new talented artists and we were able to devise new ideas to keep our business alive and adapt to the challenging situation arising from both the explosion, economic downturn and ongoing COVID-19 crisis. 

What type of support have your artists found most beneficial to their practice, how can this vary depending on the stage of their career? With a lack of physical exhibitions and digital promotion standing in the lead, what do you feel artists are most in need of now?


In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, physical exhibitions have been put on hold, the same goes for one-on-one meetings with the artists I work with. But on a slightly brighter side, artists had more free time at hand than ever before. Many artists took advantage of this newfound time to think up and innovate, experimenting with new techniques and creative processes. I believe that, between now and the time it will take for the world to get back on its feet post-crisis, artists should shift their focus towards digital marketing and seize the opportunity to put together their upcoming pieces. 

In the return to the “new normal”, PIK’D Gallery joins Cluster Crafts Residency Program as a Jury Member. What inspired you to join Cluster’s Residency and what creative aspects do you see in the project?


What primarily inspired to join the Cluster Crafts Residency Program as a jury member is the fact that I am always looking for enriching experiences to explore and new environments to work in. The program also offers young artists new opportunities to grow and thrive, and given that this fundamentally aligns with the gallery’s vision and framework, I am honored to be part of these artists’ journey and contribute in a way or another to the advancement of their career.

What are the best tools an artist can utilize when considering taking on an artist in residency program? What advice can you offer for artists looking to explore this experience?


The Cluster Crafts Residency Program offers an artistic experience like no other! Artists looking to take part in this journey will be exposed to many other fellow young talents. By sharing the same working environment as other artists, participants have an unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow and get a grasp of how others work. The program setting is also a chance for them to weave new connections in the field to expand their professional network and even make lasting friendships.  

As a mentor how would you approach your mentorship sessions with the artist in residence? Your role will provide support on the artists project during the residency whilst observing their practice as a whole. What would you like to hear from the artist?


As a mentor, I would like first of all to share my experience with the participants and convey what I have learned throughout years of working with talented artists, experimenting with an extensive range of material and adapting to a diverse spectrum of client requests. I always seek to understand the direction artists choose for themselves and its underlying implications. There is always a trigger to why an artist adopts a specific style or delves into a certain technique because at the end of the day, this is what makes an artist special and their work instantly recognizable. While mentoring resident artists from the program, I also look into how working in an environment full of fellow artists has impacted them in a way or another: Did it inspire and motivate them? Or was it a drawback in certain aspects? And finally, it interests me to know why they chose to take part in the program and how it would serve their future vision for themselves as artists.

Thank you for reading,
Lucy Swift & Cluster Team.

APPLY TO OUR RESIDENCY HERE