Upper East Side, New York
U-Turn Ushiro & Ryota Akiyama
The Presence of "Yakimono"
The FridgeWe are pleased to present our upcoming exhibition featuring the works of Japanese artists and sculptors U-Turn Ushiro and Ryota Akiyama, both based in Mashiko, a historic ceramic town in Tochigi Prefecture, located in the Kanto region of Honshu, Japan. This show is curated by Cibone. Ryota Akiyama: Working from Mashiko, Ryota explores the relationship between materiality and history. Through research and experimentation, he filters traditional techniques and concepts through a contemporary lens, reimagining their significance and function. His practice fosters new relationships between objects, people, and space—where the process itself becomes a key part of his artistic expression. U-Turn Ushiro: A former rescue worker with the local fire department, Ushiro discovered ceramics through hands-on experience. In 2021, he constructed his own underground anagama kiln in the mountains of Mashiko. Working with clay and stones he digs himself, Ushiro fires his pieces with wood, focusing on the elemental presence of fire—its light, sound, transformation, and decay. His practice revolves around the primal act of creation through flame.