Form & Flux

Contemporary East Asian Ceramics and Surface Stories
December 2, 2025–August 23, 2026

Ingrid & J. K. Lee Study Center

Vertical, tiered, black ceramic sculpture with impressed undulating folds and ridges, tapering toward the base, resembling a tornado

Satoru Hoshino, Frozen Cloud II-8, 2004

A whimsical teapot covered in polka dots with a handle shaped like an eggplant

In East Asia, contemporary ceramics blend centuries-old traditions with innovative artistic expression, reflecting a dynamic evolution in form, technique, and approach. By pushing the boundaries of utility and sculpture, artists reimagine ceramics with bold colors, experimental glazing, and abstract forms that challenge conventional notions of pottery. This fusion of history and modernity has garnered global recognition, positioning ceramics at the intersection of craft, fine art, and cultural identity in the 21st century.

A whimsical teapot covered in polka dots with a handle shaped like an eggplant
A whimsical teapot covered in polka dots with a handle shaped like an eggplant
Matsuda Yuriko
Tea Pot with Eggplant
1992
A tall, rectangular vase with one curved side decorated with ombre washes of color from deep blue to pale green
A tall, rectangular vase with one curved side decorated with ombre washes of color from deep blue to pale green
Miyashita Zenji
vase
circa 1980s, Showa period (1926–1989)
White plate covered in what appears to be red pasta sauce with a screaming face in the middle
White plate covered in what appears to be red pasta sauce with a screaming face in the middle
Vik Muniz
Caravaggio's Medusa with pasta
1999
An abstract sculpture with smooth reddish brown sides and a rough, cream-colored interior that resembles curved pages of a book unfolding
An abstract sculpture with smooth reddish brown sides and a rough, cream-colored interior that resembles curved pages of a book unfolding
Dong Hee Suh
Third River
2004
A gray-green plate decorated with a geometric depiction of a woman in front of an easel
A gray-green plate decorated with a geometric depiction of a woman in front of an easel
Pablo Picasso
Jacqueline at the Easel
1956

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