A clay sculpture by Johnny Vegas, titled Just Be There, is to be unveiled at the British Ceramics Biennial. Created with sculptor Emma Rodgers, the piece will go on display at Spode Works in Stoke‑on‑Trent, Staffordshire, when the festival opens on 6 September. The work forms an avenue of hugs along a wall and was produced with input from people living in Stoke.

Vegas, who is 54, trained in art and ceramics at the University of Middlesex and returned to the craft during the Covid‑19 pandemic. After a chance meeting with Rodgers, he returned to the studio three decades after graduating to make the piece, drawing on his experiences of living with ADHD and exploring themes of flight, faith and fear of failure. He has described his return to art as an unfinished part of his story. On 18 October, Vegas and Rodgers will host an event to discuss their collaboration and the work’s themes. The hugged forms used to create Just Be There will be sold for £800 each, with all proceeds going to the British Ceramics Biennial to fund its artist commissions, education and community projects. The six‑week celebration of clay and ceramics runs in Stoke from 6 September to 19 October and features work by more than 60 artists across exhibitions, films, talks and events.