Opening reception for Kensuke Yamada: Ceramic Sculptures

Kensuke Yamada: Ceramic Sculptures  Between Folklore and the Modern World 

October 28–November 28, 2026 

Opening Reception: October 30, 7–9 p.m. 

The John Natsoulas Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition of ceramic sculpture by  Kensuke Yamada, an artist whose distinctive figurative works fuse Japanese cultural traditions,  contemporary visual culture, and an enduring fascination with the human condition. Combining  references to folklore, mythology, and popular imagery with exaggerated forms and richly  worked surfaces, Yamada creates figures that are simultaneously humorous, unsettling, and  emotionally resonant. In this new body of work, his characteristic playfulness takes on a greater  sense of urgency, reflecting the pressures and uncertainties of contemporary life. 

Born in Kamakura, Japan, Yamada grew up surrounded by the country’s historic architecture,  religious imagery, and long tradition of ceramic sculpture. Early encounters with figurative art,  including the ancient dogū figurines—stylized humanoid sculptures dating back thousands of  years—continue to inform his approach to the human figure. His work also draws on the  exuberant aesthetics of anime, manga, and contemporary Japanese art, bringing together  seemingly disparate influences in a visual language uniquely his own. 

Yamada’s sculptures often feature enlarged heads, exaggerated proportions, and expressive eyes  that emphasize the power of nonverbal communication. Having moved to the United States as a  young adult with little grasp on the English language, he developed a particular appreciation for  gestures and facial expressions as ways of connecting across language and cultural barriers. This  

interest remains central to his practice. As he has explained, figurative sculpture offers a way to  explore universal emotions and the experiences that unite people, regardless of their  backgrounds. 

Color and surface further enrich these narratives. Through successive firings, layered glazes,  metallic accents, and contrasting textures, Yamada creates figures that range from weathered and  almost archaeological to brilliantly polished. Symbols such as dots, flowers, and stripes become  expressive devices, suggesting affection, vulnerability, and the delicate balance between  opposing emotions. 

In this exhibition, Yamada combines contemporary imagery with elements of Japanese folklore,  including yokai, supernatural beings, and kaiju, monsters, alongside myths and contemporary stories. These fantastical references offer a way to confront the realities of everyday life,  transforming familiar anxieties into imaginative, often unexpected forms. The resulting  sculptures retain their wit and charm while capturing the tension of living in an increasingly  unstable world. 

Yamada has participated in residencies and visiting artist programs at institutions including the  Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous museum,  institutional, and private collections. He is currently an assistant professor at California State  University, Chico. 

The exhibition will be on view October 28 through November 28, 2026, at the John Natsoulas  Gallery. An opening reception will take place Friday, October 30, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Kensuke Yamada, Gorilla Man, 2026, ceramic, 31 x 17 x 8 in.