Shio Kusaka: one light year

David Zwirner is pleased to present its first exhibition with Shio Kusaka since announcing representation of the artist in 2020. Taking place at the gallery’s 519 West 19th Street location in New York, one light year will feature a singular installation of Kusaka’s new ceramic works. Known for her playful and open approach to the medium, as well as her characteristic line work and intuitive sense of color, Kusaka crafts vessels that embrace organic imperfections, recurrent techniques and patterns, and imagery that alludes to historical and contemporary forms.

In her ceramics, which are often made in distinct series, Kusaka articulates unique forms and produces complex designs with a heightened emphasis on difference and repetition, bringing awareness to poetic irregularities. Her work rewards close observation, which reveals layered intricacies and optical qualities through subtle shifts in glazing or decoration. The motifs she combines and recontextualizes—including wood grain and fruit textures, and her children’s infatuation with dinosaurs and other animals—are all influenced by her daily life. Process-oriented titles, composed of terms such as “carved” or “line” followed by a number, reveal the tactility of Kusaka’s work.

 

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Image: Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022.

Dates
March 23April 30, 2022
Opening Reception
Wednesday, March 23, 6-8pm
An installation consisting of twenty-three groupings of sculptures by Shio Kusaka, titled (one light year), dated 2022.

Shio Kusaka

one light year, 2022
clay, stoneware, and porcelain
Twenty-three (23) groupings on copper
38 1/4 x 675 x 73 inches (97.2 x 1714.5 x 185.4 cm)
A photo by Aubrey Mayer of Shio Kusaka, dated 2006.

Shio Kusaka, 2006. Photo by Aubrey Mayer

Shio Kusaka, 2006. Photo by Aubrey Mayer

A stoneware sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (triangle 47), dated 2018.

Shio Kusaka

(triangle 47), 2018
part of one light year
stoneware
38 1/4 x 23 x 23 inches (97.2 x 58.4 x 58.4 cm)
A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (triangle 47) , dated 2018

 Shio Kusaka, (triangle 47), 2018 (detail)

 Shio Kusaka, (triangle 47), 2018 (detail)

A stoneware sculpture in two parts by Shio Kusaka, titled group 60, dated 2020.

Shio Kusaka

group 60, 2020
part of one light year
stoneware in two (2) parts
Overall dimensions variable
Each: 29 1/2 x 13 x 13 inches (74.9 x 33 x 33 cm)
A stoneware sculpture in two parts by Shio Kusaka, titled group 58, dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

group 58, 2021
part of one light year
stoneware in two (2) parts
Overall dimensions variable
Each: 30 3/4 x 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches (78.1 x 28.6 x 28.6 cm)
A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled group 58, dated 2021

Shio Kusaka, group 58, 2021 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, group 58, 2021 (detail)

A photo by Marten Elder of Kusaka’s studio, dated 2022.

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

A stoneware sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (line 144), dated 2020.

Shio Kusaka

(line 144), 2020
part of one light year
stoneware
13 3/4 x 22 3/4 x 22 3/4 inches (34.9 x 57.8 x 57.8 cm)
A stoneware sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (line 143), dated 2020.

Shio Kusaka

(line 143), 2020
part of one light year
stoneware
13 3/4 x 22 1/4 x 22 1/4 inches (34.9 x 56.5 x 56.5 cm)
A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (line 143), dated 2020

Shio Kusaka, (line 143), 2020 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, (line 143), 2020 (detail)

A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (line 144), dated 2020

Shio Kusaka, (line 144), 2020 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, (line 144), 2020 (detail)

Photo by Marten Elder of an installation view of Shio Kusaka, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences in Los Angeles dated 2020.

Installation view, Shio Kusaka, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles, 2020. Photo by Marten Elder

 

 

Installation view, Shio Kusaka, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles, 2020. Photo by Marten Elder

 

 

An Installation view of Shio Kusaka at David Zwirner in New York dated 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka, one light year, David Zwirner, New York

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

A stoneware sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (line 147), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(line 147), 2021
part of one light year
stoneware
22 1/4 x 19 x 19 inches (56.5 x 48.3 x 48.3 cm)
A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (line 147) , dated 2021

Shio Kusaka, (line 147), 2021 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, (line 147), 2021 (detail)

An Installation view, Shio Kusaka, David Zwirner, New York, dated 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

An Installation view, Shio Kusaka, David Zwirner, New York, dated 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

A photo by Marten Elder installation view of Shio Kusaka in Neutra VDL Studio and Residences in Los Angeles, dated 2020.

Installation view, Shio Kusaka, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles, 2020. Photo by Marten Elder

Installation view, Shio Kusaka, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences, Los Angeles, 2020. Photo by Marten Elder

A photo by Marten Elder Kusaka’s studio, dated 2022.

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

A clay sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (Jomon study 8), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(Jomon study 8), 2021
part of one light year
clay
8 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 7 inches (22.2 x 23.5 x 17.8 cm)
A clay sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (Jomon study 7), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(Jomon study 7), 2021
part of one light year
clay
6 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches (15.9 x 18.4 x 18.4 cm)
A clay sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (Jomon study 6), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(Jomon study 6), 2021
part of one light year
clay
11 1/4 x 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (28.6 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm)
A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (Jomon study 7), dated 2021

Shio Kusaka, (Jomon study 7), 2021 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, (Jomon study 7), 2021 (detail)

A detail of a sculpture by Shio Kusaka titled (Jomon study 6), dated 2021

Shio Kusaka, (Jomon study 6), 2021 (detail)

Shio Kusaka, (Jomon study 6), 2021 (detail)

A clay sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (Jomon study 9), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(Jomon study 9), 2021
part of one light year
clay
9 1/4 x 9 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches (23.5 x 23.5 x 18.4 cm)
A photo by Marten Elder of Kusaka’s studio, dated 2022.

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

A eighteen part porcelain artwork by Shio Kusaka, titled (map 1), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(map 1), 2021
part of one light year
porcelain in eighteen (18) parts
Overall dimensions variable
A three part porcelain artwork by Shio Kusaka, titled (machine 1), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(machine 1), 2021
part of one light year
porcelain in three (3) parts
Overall dimensions variable
Part 1: 8 1/2 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches (21.6 x 12.1 x 12.1 cm)
Part 2: 6 1/4 x 4 x 4 inches (15.9 x 10.2 x 10.2 cm)
Part 3: 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches (21 x 10.8 x 10.8 cm)
A three part porcelain artwork by Shio Kusaka, titled (machine 2), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(machine 2), 2021
part of one light year
porcelain in three (3) parts
Overall dimensions variable
Part 1: 4 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (10.8 x 11.4 x 11.4 cm)
Part 2: 4 1/4 x 5 x 5 inches (10.8 x 12.7 x 12.7 cm)
Part 3: 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches (13.3 x 18.4 x 18.4 cm)
A two part clay artwork by Shio Kusaka, titled (Haniwa study 1), dated 2021.

Shio Kusaka

(Haniwa study 1), 2021
part of one light year
clay in two (2) parts
Overall dimensions variable
Part 1: 12 3/4 x 6 3/4 x 5 1/4 inches (32.4 x 17.1 x 13.3 cm)
Part 2: 20 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches (52.1 x 18.4 x 15.9 cm)
A photo by Marten Elder of Kusaka’s studio, dated 2022.

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

Kusaka’s studio, 2022. Courtesy Wood Kusaka Studios

A clay sculpture by Shio Kusaka, titled (robot 1), dated 2022.

Shio Kusaka

(robot 1), 2022
part of one light year
clay
17 x 9 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches (43.2 x 23.5 x 23.5 cm)
Installation view of Shio kusaka in David Zwriner in New York

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view of Shio kusaka in David Zwriner in New York

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Installation view, Shio Kusaka: one light year, David Zwirner, New York, 2022

Inquire about works by Shio Kusaka

An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.
An installation view of the exhibition, Shio Kusaka: one light year, at David Zwirner in New York, dated 2022.

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