THOUSANDS of ceramic bowls will form the first major exhibition at York Art Gallery when it reopens this summer following a multi-million pound development.

The installation of 10,000 handmade bowls from globally-acclaimed artist Clare Twomey will be stacked on scaffolds throughout the gallery’s new Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA), which has been added as part of an £8m renovation.

Local groups were invited by Ms Twomey to help craft the slipcast works, including students from York College, who were also given an insight into the working life of the artist.

Ms Twomey said: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with such a personally formed and rich collection.”

Her installation is among several collections to be displayed when the gallery, which will boast 60 per cent more exhibition space, opens its door to the public again.

Helen Walsh, York Art Gallery’s curator of ceramics, said: “Clare is an artist we have admired for some time and we were delighted when she agreed to create what will be a focal point for everyone coming to visit the new look gallery for the first time."

The CoCA is located inside two new spaces on the first floor and it will house the largest collection of British studio ceramics in the world.

Also being added by the development is an artists’ garden in space at the rear of the gallery which was previously off-limits to the public and now links up with the York Museum Gardens.

Helen Ventress, head of division for art and design at York College, said: “Students and staff are very excited to be able to work with Clare in our ceramics studios here at York College and actually be a part of the making process for such an ambitious piece.”