The Winter Show 2025

Presented at the Park Avenue Armory for The Winter Show 2025, FORM not FUNCTION: Japanese Ceramic Sculpture features extraordinary clay creations from over thirty master modern and contemporary sculptors, the majority of which have been specially commissioned for this exhibition. The unbroken history of clay in Japan spans two millennia, during which the country has refined its mastery of functional ceramic traditions. In the post-war era, this expertise expanded to include a growing interest in clay sculpture. Drawing inspiration from historical practices and aesthetics, Japanese artists began to create innovative sculptural pieces that harmonized form and surface. These groundbreaking works have transformed the way sophisticated collectors and curators perceive and appreciate ceramic art.

This exhibition showcases an impressive selection of masterworks from renowned artists and highly sought-after emerging talents. Several featured artists, including KOHYAMA Yasuhisa, KAKUREZAKI Ryūichi, and KONDŌ Takahiro, have trained in traditional ceramic techniques and have pushed the boundaries of those traditions, bringing them into the 21st century. Others have eschewed tradition by freely exploring the radical sculptural side of clay. A founding member of the avant-garde group Sōdeisha, YAMADA Hikaru was among the earliest clay artists to move beyond function and embrace pure artistic expression. In the decades since, this helm has been taken up by renowned female artists, including MISHIMA Kimiyo, FUJINO Sachiko, KATSUMATA Chieko, KISHI Eiko, and OGAWA Machiko, who were not bound by the traditions of familial and generational practices. Emerging talentsTANAKA Yū, KINO Satoshi, and FUJIKASA Satoko continue to expand the horizons of sculptural clay today.

FORM not FUNCTION: Japanese Ceramic Sculpture invites viewers to engage with the narrative and artistry of Japanese sculptural clay.