STATEMENT
In this exhibition, I am presenting a new way to depict my signature form, totemic figures, through drawings in charcoal on rice paper and sculptures in clay. Clay and charcoal are natural materials; they combine with the complementary elements of water and fire. And much like the tactile character of clay, charcoal responds to and stimulates my creative impulse on paper. It informs the basic, yet physical and energetic process – give and take – with my finger movements.
Space on paper becomes activated by the interaction of forms, lines and textures within the enveloping positive/negative areas. Various architectural structures and nature patterns influence my own geometric composition. By incorporating lunar effects into my three dimensional expression in white clay, a new series of claywork, titled Illumine, is created.
The indigenous landscape and the traditional and ceremonial practices I have encountered on many continents for two decades have continued to stir my inspiration. When traveling, I learn about and interact with the native people; I hear their stories. I learn from the artists and craftspeople. My practice of observing their skillful hand-power and their soulful connection to nature confirms the expense of spiritual loss in this highly technological era. Their ways of incorporating the signs, symbols and landscape of their cultural experience deeply influence my way of seeing, conceptualizing and art making.
Ayano Ohmi
Born in Tokyo, Japan
Live and Work in NYC
Education:
1998 | MFA, City College of New York (CCNY), Major in Sculpture |
Solo Exhibitions:
2014 | Sculpture and Drawing, Sacred Meetings, Chateau de Vixouze, Polminhac, France |
2011 | Sculpture, Maiden Lane Exhibition Space, New York, NY |
2011 | Sculpture, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY |
2006 | The Art of the Tree, Totems in Garden, Mariani’s Garden Market, Armonk, NY |
2005 | El Kiai Del Silencio. Galerias Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
2004 | IRADAC Gallery, The Office of the President, The City College of New York, NY |
2002 | Studio D’ars, Milan, Italy |
2002 | Museo de Casa de Asia, Old Havana, Cuba |
2002 | Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery, Brooklyn, New York |
2001 | Barbara Greene Fine Art, New York 2000 Stephen Gang Gallery, New York |
Group Exhibitions:
2013 | Cocobolo Ceramics Art & Design, New York, NY |
2013 | Architecture Digest Show – Cocobolo Ceramics Art & Design, New York, NY |
2012 | Watershed’s Kiln God Exhibition, Clayworks, Baltimore, MD |
2012 | Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Pier 94. New York, NY |
2011 | Friends&Fire Mates, curated by Nina Hole, Grimmerhus Ceramic Museum, Denmark |
2011 | Organic Experience, Green Art of Kittery, Maine |
2009 | Shimmering, Ceres Gallery, New York, NY |
2009 | Endangered, Gloria Kennedy Gallery, Dumbo-Brooklyn, NY |
2008 | All Fired Up, Maxwell Fine Arts, Peekskill, New York |
2008 | Shigaraki Outdoor Exhibition, Shigaraki, Japan |
2007 | III Int’l Biennial of Contemporary Ceramics, San Nicolas, Buenos Aires Argentina |
2006 | Objects and UTSUWA by Ohmi and Hayashi, Do.w.Powwow Gallery, Tokyo, Japan |
2005 | S.O.F.A. Art Fair. Presented by G.R.N’namdi Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago. IL |
2004 | Summer Exhibition: Sculptures by A. Ohmi; G.R.N’Namdi Gallery, Detroit, MI |
2003 | Memory & Place, The 1st CCNY Biennial Exhibition, New York |
2002 | International Ceramic Triennial, Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
2001 | Biennale Internazionale Dell’Arte Contemporanea, Citta di Firenze, Florence, Italy |
Grants and Awards:
2013 | Kohila International Ceramic Symposium – invitation – Tallinn, Estonia |
2013 | Projects in Ceramics Course by Professor Judith Schwartz, Steinhardt, New York University, NY |
2010 | Kiln God Award, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine, USA |
2009 | Guldagergaard, Skaelskor, Denmark |
2008 | Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan |
2007 | II SaNsA Int’l Art Workshop, Kokrobite Institute, Ghana |
2007 | VIII Shimposio de Ceramica, Instituto Municipal de Ceramica de Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
2005 | Fellowship for Solo Exhibition at Punta Cana Art Gallery, Fundacion Igneri, Dom. Republic |
2004 | Art OMI International Arts Center, NY |
2003 | Pollock Krasner Foundation Inc. New York, NY 2003 PREMIO – Elit-tile |
2003 | PREMIO – Elit-tile 2003, II Trienal de Mosaico Ceramico, Museo del Arte, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
Residency:
2014 | Sacred Meetings, Galerie A l’Ecu de France, Viroflay, France |
2013 | Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, Newcastle, Maine, USA |
2012 | La Ceiba Grafica, Coatepec, Xalapa, Mexico |
2011 | Trilobite Project, Artist-in-Residence, Cuernavaca, Mexico |
2010 | Zentrum fur Keramik, Artist-in-Residence, Berlin, Germany |
2006 | Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan |
2001 | Altos de Chavon Cultural Center Foundation, Artist in Residence, Dominican Republic |
Lectures:
2007 | Lecture, Kokrobite Institute, Ghana |
2007 | Lecture Series, “My work from 1995 to Present”, Instituto Municipal de Ceramica de Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
2005 | Art Forum Lecture Series, “Creating Stand-Alone Sculpture”, Montclair State Univ. NJ |
2003 | Lecture Series, “Installation Technique”, Valley School, The Krishnamurthi Foundation, India |
Publication:
Architectural Digest pg 201, September, 2013, USA www.architecturaldigest.com/celebrity-homes/2013/hairstylist-guido-palau-new-york-city-home-slideshow_slideshow_Living-Room_3 | |
Sculpture Magazine Goodman, Jonathan, November 2011, USA www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag11/nov_11/nov11_reviews.shtml | |
Ceramics Monthly Contents pg8 – Exposure pg22. March 2011, USA www.ceramicsmonthly.org | |
Shukan New York Seikatsu No.338 February 2011, USA www.viewer.nyseikatsu.com/viewer/index.html?editionID=338&directory=../editions&page=20 | |
Daily Guide, Owusu, George Clifford, 22 November 2007, Ghana | |
La Ciudad 31 de mayo 2007, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
Ceramics TECHNICAL magazine Miller, Jeannette, No.19, 2004-5 – Cover Photo, Australia | |
OPUS HABANA Senra, Rafael Lopez, Oficina del Historiador de la Ciudad. VI, No. 3, 2002, Cuba | |
Corriere dell’Arte Venuti, Silvia, Milan, December 2002, Italy | |
American Ceramic Magazine Preston, George Nelson, 14/1, 2002, USA | |
VENTANA De Tolentino, Marianne, Santo Domingo, 19 de Agosto 2001, Dominican Republic |
Collections:
The Francis J. Greenburger Collection, New York, USA | |
Guldagergaard, Skaelskor, Denmark | |
SaNsA Association, Kumasi, Ghana | |
G.R.N’Namdi gallery, Detroit, MI, USA | |
Institute Municipal de Ceramica de Avellaneda, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
Shigaraki Ceramic Center and Park, Shigaraki, Japan | |
Fundacion Igneri, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | |
Art OMI, New York, USA | |
The Krishnamurti Foundation India, The Valley School, Bangalore, India | |
Casa de Asia de la Oficina del Historiador, Havana, Cuba | |
Barbara Greene Gallery, New York, USA | |
Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery, New York, USA | |
Museum of Art and Origin, New York, USA | |
Sony Corporation of America, New York, USA | |
Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, Brunswick, NJ, USA | |
Various private collections in the United States, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Cuba, India and Japan |