Artist: Kensuke Yamada
Kensuke Yamada, ARKANSAS
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Kensuke Yamada (b. 1979) was born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. He received his MFA from the University of Montana in 2009 and has a BA from The Evergreen State College, in Olympia, Washington. Kensuke has participated in artist residency programs at The Archie Bray Foundation (Montana), Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts (Mass), Oregon College of Art and Craft (Oregon), and was an invited guest to make a sculpture at Chihuly Inc (Washington) and Ox-Bow (Michigan). His sculptures have been exhibited throughout the USA at SOFA CHICAGO, Holter Museum of Art, Lillstreet Art Center, Seattle Center, and more. His work has also been included in the permanent collections of the Missoula Art Museum (Montana), Safeco Insurance (Washington), and the Bellevue Club (Washington). Kensuke was previously a visiting artist at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR and is currently Visiting Assistant Professor at Centre College, Danville, KY.
"In my sculpture, I seek figurative extensions of these shared experiences. Clay has become another primary source of communication for me. The vocabulary consists of gestures, patterns, textures, colors and rhythms. In conversation, these qualities bring the figure to life."- Kensuke Yamada
Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions
2019 | "The fine art of Kensuke Yamada and Ricky Sikes | Boswell Mourot Fine Art
2017 | “Diving in the Pool” | Aegon Gallery | Danville, KY
2016 | “Diving Through the Cloud” | Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art
2016 | “Conversation Unspoken” | Kensuke Yamada/Leigh Suggs, Penland School of and Craft | Penland NC
2015 | “Reliance” | George Caleb Bingham Gallery, University of Missouri | Columbia, MO
2015 | “Rhythm-Color” | Patricia Rovzar Gallery | Seattle, WA
2015 | “Wind Bears Color to bring Charm” | NEVICA PROJECT | Chicago, IL
2010 | “I and Love and You” | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
2009 | “Empathetic”, MFA Thesis Exhibition | Gallery of Visual Arts |University of Montana, MT
2008 | “Reconfiguration” | University Center Gallery | University of Montana, MT
2008 | “Free Bird” | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
2007 | “Yamadaville” | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
2007 | “Erica Harris and Kensuke Yamada” | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
2006 | “Dwell” | Colleen Hayward and Kensuke Yamada | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
2006 | “Hortus Ortus” | Davis Freeman and Kensuke Yamada | Catherine Person Gallery | Seattle, WA
Selected group exhibition
2020 | Yunomi Invitational 2020 | Clay Akar
2020 | The Ceramics Invitational | Radius Gallery
2020 | Small Favor | The Clay Studio Philadelphia
2020 | North West Designer Craftsman Exhibit and Symposium | Schuck Art Center
2019 | " (Un)common" Ground | Blue Spiral Gallery
2019 | Reflective | Imprint Gallery
2019 | About Face | Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
2019 | You am I | Veronique Wantz Gallery
2019 | Small Favors | The Clay Studio Philadelphia
2019 | Chinese New Year Banquet | Clay Art Center
2019 | Red Lodge Gallery, NCECA EXPO
2019 | Of Things to Come | The Arts Company
2018. | Ceramics Invitational | Blue Spiral 1
Red | Beth Lo and Kensuke Yamada |2018 lodge Clay Art Center
2018 | Concurrent/conventions, A spectrum of Contemporary Ceramics, California State University
2018 | Small Favor | The Clay studio Philadelphia
2018 | Carrie Furnace Exhibition at NCECA, Carrie Furnace
2018 | The Nevica Project & Cerbera Gallery in conjunction with NCECA Present 10
2018 | Taste of Touchstone | Saville Gallery
2017 | 25th Annual Celebrate Art | Patricia Rovzar Gallery
2017 | Bottoms Up | Santa Fe Clay
2017 | State of the Art 2017 | National Biennial Invitational | Giertz Gallery| Curated by Bill Griffith
2017 | Ceramic Scullpture Culture | James May Gallery
2017 | REDUX: Transformations 6x6 | Clay Art Center
2017 | Summer Exhibit | Sager Braudis Gallery
2017 | REVISIT: the Boneyard | Clay Art Center
2017 | Ceramics Sculpture Culture | Baltimore Clayworks
2017 | lillstreet Gallery NCECA Expo
2017 | La Mesa NCECA | With Santa Fe Clay
2017 | Small Favors XI | The Clay Studio Philadelphia
2016 | Epics, Myths and Fables Ceramics invitational | Meyer Gallery
2016 | Small Scale Lilstreet Art Center
2016 | The Figure in Clay | Santa Fe Clay
2016 | Penland School of Crafts Series | Central Piedmont Community College
2015 | Group Anniversary exhibition | Patricia Rovzar Gallery
2015 | 40th Annual Show and Sale | LillStreet Art Center
2015 | Small Ones | Cinema Gallery
2015 | Contemporary Ceramics
2015 | Clay Studio Benefit Auction | The Clay Studio
2015 | La Mesa | NCECA
2015 | UALR Permanent Collection| University of Arkansas, Little Rock
2015 |Annual Summer Preview Exhibition
2015 | Small Favors| The Clay Studio
2014 | Let there Be Light! LillStreet Art Center
2014 | Poking the Lilies Pad| Asia Institute| Inc. DBA Asia Institute- Crane house
2014 | Emerged: After The Residency| Lillstreet Art Center| Curated by Bill Griffith
2014 | La Mesa| NCECA| Santa Fe Clay
2014 | Primary Clay| University of Arkansas Little Rock
2013 |21st Anniversary Exhibition| Patricia Rovzar Gallery
2013 |Let There Be Light! LillStreet Art Center
2013 |28th Annual Benefit Auction| Penland School of Craft
2013 |Figurative Invitational| Red Lodge Clay Center
2013 |La Mesa | NCECA | Santa Fe Clay
2013 |Then and Now Alumni Art Exhibition| South Puget Sound Community
2013 | Small Favors VIII| The Clay Studio
2013 | Our Community| Clay Studio Philadelphia
2012 | Forecast| A New Wave of Creative Talent| Penland School of Craft
2012 | Holter Museum of Art Auction Exhibition| Holter Museum of Art
2012 | 23rd annual 30 Ceramic Sculptors| John Natsoulas Gallery
2012 | Self Contained| Northern Clay Center
2012 | Figurative Work in Clay| Grover Thurston Gallery
2012 | Figure/Figurine| The Clay Studio
2012 | Small Favors VII| The Clay Studio
2012 | Ceram-a-rama-yaki| ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center
2011 | Naughty and Nice| Lillstreet Art Center
2011 | Composing the Modern| Lilstreet Art Center
2011 | 60 Artist, 60 Artwork, 60 Years: Celebrating the Archie Bray Foundation| Montana Museum of Art and Culture
2011 | Contemporary Figurative Ceramics| The Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture
2011 | Big Clay| Holter Museum of Art
2011 | Figurines| Santa Fe Clay
2011 | Archie Bray at NCECA
2010 | SOFA Chicago with the Archie Bray Foundation
2010 | Positioning the Figure| Signature Gallery
2010 | Resident Exhibition| Archie Bray Foundation
2009 | Fellowship Exhibition| Archie Bray Foundation
2009 | Artist Trust Annual Auction| Seattle Center
2009 | Resident Exhibition| Archie Bray Foundation
2009 | Celebration of Missoula Artists| Dana Gallery
2009 | That Difference| Clay Studio of Missoula
2009 | The Art of Living Exhibition and Auction| The Evergreen State College
2009 | 13th Annual Bray Benefit Auction and Exhibition
2009 | Missoula Art Museum 37th Auction and Exhibition
2009 | Gallery All-Stars | Santa Fe Clay
2009 | Archie Bray Foundation at NCECA
2009 | University of MT and MT State University| Archie Bray Foundation
2008 | SOFA Chicago with Santa Fe Clay
2008 | Montana Ceramics| University Center Gallery
2008 | Residents Summer Exhibition| Archie Bray Foundation
2008 | Emerging Talent
2008 | East By Northwest| Kolva Sullivan Gallery
2008 | Go Figure| Gulf Coast Community College
2008 | Artist Trust Annual Auction| Seattle Center
2007 | The People| Clay Studio Missoula
2007 | Body Image| Seattle Art Museum Gallery| Art sales and Retail
2006 | Catherine Person Gallery| Seattle Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery
2006 | At Once| Catherine Person Gallery
2006 | NCECA, Regional Student Juried Exhibition | Northview Gallery | Portland College
Publications
2018 | Sunshine Cobb, Mastering Hand Building: Techniques, Tips and Tricks for slabs, coils, and more
2016 | Brook Griffith, Nashville Arts, “ARTSMART”
2015 | Ceramic Monthly, “Exposure” section
2014 | Larks 500 Figures in Clay Volume 2, published by Lark Crafts | juried by Nan Smith
2012 | Kelly Connell, “Self Contain” Exhibition Catalogue with essays
2012 | Edith Garcia, “Ceramics and The Human Figure 2012” | A&C Black Publication, UK
2012 | Jennifer Harnetty,“Ceramic Monthly Emerging Artist 2012” | Ceramic Monthly, April
2011 | “Ones to Watch, Spotlighting sculptor Kensuke Yamada” | Western Art & Architecture
2011 | Donahoe Emily, “Archie Bray Foundation 60th Anniversary Exhibitions” | Ceramics Monthly, October
2011 | Beason, Tyrone, “The Things We Can’t Let Go” | The Seattle Times, August 6
2011 | Lovelace, Joy, “Archie Bray, Tradition Means Innovation” | American Craft Magazine, June
2011 | "From the Center to the Edge, The Archie Bray turns 60” | Cover Image, Ceramics Monthly, April
2010 | Nayoung Kwon, “Ceramic Artist Showcases a Playful Side” | International Examiner, June 3rd
2010 | Carmen Ebert and Rose Stepanek, “MFA Art Exhibit” | Vimeo.com, Jun 2
2008 | Gayle Clemans, “Dark and Sweet Fables for a Modern Age” | Seattle Times, | August 8
2007 | Mathew Kangas, "Yamadaville" | Ceramics Monthly, March
2007 | Nancy Guppy, “Gallery Hop” | Seattle Channel, Seattle, WA
2006 | “Yamada's Ceramic Sculptures Exude Just the Right Touch of Sweetness” Seattle Post Intelligencer
Education and Credentials
Master of Fine Arts: Studio Art | The University of Montana, Missoula, MT | 2009
Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art | The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA | 2005
Residencies
2016 | Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art | Nashville, TN
2015 | Surface Forum | Arrowmont School for Arts and Crafts. Gatlinburg, TN
2013 – 2016 | Visiting Artist/Ceramics Studio technician/Instructor | University of Arkansas| Fayetteville, AR
2012 | Artist in Residence| The Clay Studio Philadelphia| Philadelphia, PA
2011 | Visiting Artist in Residence| Tyler School of Art| Short Term Scholar | Temple University| Philadelphia, PA
2010 | Long Term Resident Artist | Archie Bray Foundation| Helena, MT
2010 | Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts: Artists Invite Artists Series| Newcastle, ME
2009 | Summer Artist In Residence | Oregon College of Art and Craft| Portland, OR
2008 | Summer Resident| Archie Bray Foundation| Helena, MT
2008 | Visiting Artist | Chihuly Inc. Seattle, WA
Awards & Fellowships
2016 | Martin Shallenberger Fellow| Cheekwood | Nashville, TN
2012 | Ceramic Monthly Emerging Artist 2012 | Ceramic Monthly | April
2010 | Archie Bray Foundation for the ceramic arts| Long term resident MJD Fellowship
2010 | Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts | Summer Fellowship
2009 | Bertha Morton Scholarship Recipient | University of Montana| Missoula, MT
Lectures & Demonstrations
2020 | North West Designer Craftsman | Schuck Art Center | WA
2019 | Ball State University | Muncie IN
2019 | Santa Fe Clay | Santa Fe, NM
2019 | University of Georgia | Athen GA
2018 | Presenter, Figurative Association Symposium 2018 | Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts | Gatlinburg, TN
2018 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA
2018 | Red Lodge Clay Center | Red Lodge, MT
2018 | Touchstone Center for Crafts | Farmington, PA
2018 | Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
2018 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville, IL
2017 | Demonstration at the Standard Ceramics supply | Lodi, NJ
2017 | Penland School of Crafts Summer two week session | Penland School of Crafts| Penland, NC
2017 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV
2016 | Lillstreet Art Center | Chicago, IL
2016 | George Fox University | Newberg, OR
2016 | Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art | Nashville, TN
2016 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY
2016 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA
2015 | University of Missouri | Colombia| MO
2015 | Pottery North West | Seattle, WA
2015 | Ox-Bow | Saugatuck, MI
2015 | Santa Fe Clay | Santa Fe, NM
2015 | Idyllwild Arts Academy | Idyllwild, CA
2014 | Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts | Gatlinburg, TN
2014 | Clay Art Center | Port Chester, NY
2014 | University of Arkansas, Little Rock | Little Rock, AR
2013 | Penland School of Crafts | Penland, NC
2013 | Austin Museum of Art | Austin, TX
2013 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA
2013 | Buffalo State College | Buffalo, NY
2013 | Herron School of Art & Design | Indianapolis, IN
2012 | Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell, PA
2012 | Hand-building Personal Narratives | The Clay Studio Philadelphia |Philadelphia, PA
2012 | 23rd Annual California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art | Davis, CA
2011 | Herron School of Art and Design | Indianapolis, IN
2011 | University of Texas | San Antonio, TX
2011 | Alamo College | San Antonio, TX
2010 | Chico State University | Chico, CA
2010 | Diablo Valley College | Berkeley, CA Performance on Online Assessments
Juror and other service
NEA(National Endowment for the Arts) Peer Panel ( 2019|)
Juror | Small and Mighty | Clay Studio Missoula (February, 2019)
Juror | Horizon Contemporary Landscape (September, 2018)
Teaching Appointments
Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR ( 2019 - Pr)
Lecture Faculty, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR (2018)
Visiting Assistant Professor, Centre College, Danville, KY (2016 | – 2018)
Visiting Artist/Ceramics Studio Technician/ Lecture faculty member, University of Arkansas (2013 | – 2016 |)
Visiting Artist/ adjunct faculty | Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA (2012 | – 2013 |)
Permanent Collection
University of Arkansas Little Rock Art Gallery | Little Rock, AR
The Clay Studio Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA
Missoula Art Museum | Missoula, MT
Safeco Insurance | Seattle, WA
Bellevue Club | Seattle, WA
Archie Bray Foundation| Helena, MT