En Iwamura

The exhibition features over 20 ceramic sculptures, including some of Iwamura’s first wall hanging sculptures. This latest body of work references the cultural and symbolic significance of masks. As a child growing up in Osaka, the artist recalls being enamored by the global mask display at the city’s National Museum of Ethnology that showcased exhibits from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. While recognizing the historical significance of a mask as a tool for religious, artistic, or ritualistic expression, this body of work reflects on their importance in our contemporary, post-pandemic world.

A driving force behind this collection of work is a reconnection to child-like senses of curiosity, wonderment, and creativity. In addition to Iwamura’s wall hanging pieces, the exhibition includes works from the artists Neo Jomon: Stacking Neighbor series. This recent body of work was born from observing his son getting to know the world through play. Much like stacked toys, these ceramic sculptures consist of two parts that fit together in dynamic ways to create a whole. This body of work, with its diverse array of shapes, colors, and expressions, retains the distinct vibrancy of glaze, softness of form, and coarseness of texture for which the artist is best known. While serving as a meditation on parenthood, this series is also an encouragement to reunite with one's inner child.

Iwamura earned his BFA and MFA from the Kanazawa College of Art and Craft (Kanazawa, Japan), and later earned a second MFA from Clemson University (Clemson, South Carolina). He was awarded residencies at the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, Montana), The Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute (Jingdezhen, China), and The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park (Shigaraki, Japan) among others. He has presented guest lectures at prominent institutions such as Harvard University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute. Most recently, Iwamura was commissioned to create a public art installation at Sha Tau Kok Pier in Hong Kong, alongside Vivian Ho and Louis To Wun.

Iwamura’s work has been featured in solo and two-person exhibitions at Ross+Kramer (New York and East Hampton, NY; Miami, FL); Almine Rech (Shanghai, China); Gallery Anthony (Chicago, IL); WOAW Gallery (Hong Kong, China); The American Museum of Ceramic Art (Pomona, CA); the Gallery of Contemporary Art (St. Louis, MO); and The Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art (Nagoya, Aichi, Japan), among others.