Ceramic Expressions is an exhibition that brings together prominent female ceramists whose works, in addition to reflecting their personal poetics, critically address gender-related issues. Through ceramics, these artists explore identity, the body, power, and the female experience, using a medium traditionally associated with domesticity to question and redefine its potential as a tool for reflection and empowerment. The exhibition highlights how these women transform ceramics into a visual language that challenges gender norms and expectations while celebrating their cultural heritage and their ability to generate profound and universal discourses.
The exhibition encourages reflection on how ceramics created by women might differ from those made by men, both in thematic focus and technical execution. While men might concentrate more on technique and craftsmanship, the women in this exhibition place particular emphasis on the political and personal, addressing topics such as gender violence, motherhood, and sexuality from an intimate and critical perspective. These artists also explore vulnerability and intimacy in explicit ways, using clay to represent the fragility of the body and identity, challenging the power structures that have shaped the history of art and culture.
This exhibition not only presents ceramic works but also creates a space for dialogue and reflection on the role of gender in artistic creation. The curatorial approach seeks works that, combining aesthetic strength and conceptual depth, offer a cohesive narrative addressing the complexity of the female experience in art. The exhibition is complemented by parallel activities such as panel discussions and workshops, inviting the public to explore the various ways contemporary ceramics can serve as a medium of resistance and empowerment. In essence, Ceramic Expressions demonstrates that ceramics created by women have the potential to transform our understanding of both art and gender, offering a powerful and renewed vision of what it means to create in a world still striving to balance the voices and narratives of all its cultures.
VALERIA YAMAMOTO
Japanese-Argentinian, b. 1975. Yamamoto has studied and worked in the field of Graphic Design back in her country. In 2001 she moved to Miami, Florida, where she initiated her career as an artist earning a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in sculpture at the Florida International University in 2008. Currently, she is an artist-in-residence at the Bakehouse Art complex in Wynwood Art District of Miami and has been working and participated in the Simposio2014 Ponte di Ferro Officina D’ Arte. Carrara, Italy. Most of Yamamoto’s sculptures are inspired by the study of organic forms found in the natural world, or as reaction to her environment. Yamamoto’s work bounces between abstraction and figurative representations. Sometimes her abstract pieces seem to fuse the Animal and Plant Kingdoms. She has worked in a wide range of materials and formats. Her body of work includes small fragile pieces made of porcelain and eggshell, to large sculpture built out of cement; as well as ephemeral overwhelming installation created by 400 wing-like pieces (casting on hydrocal) showing a flying flock of birds. Yamamoto’s work has been shown in several exhibitions nationally and abroad through galleries, museums, and International Art fairs such as Shanghai Art Fair, Scope, Art Context, Art West Palm Contemporary, Art Santa Fe and Arteamericas. In United States her pieces has been displayed at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Coral Gables Museum, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Etra Fine Art, Irazoqui Gallery and in Singapore at Ode to Art Gallery. Her large sculptures and installations has been selected for Public Art Exhibitions at the Costal Discovery Museum in Hilton Head, SC., City of Bellevue, WA. Chattanooga, TN, Winter Haven, FL. Sarasota, FL. and Atlanta GA. Some of her works are part of permanent collection of the City of Sunny Isles Beach, at Intracoastal Park. Miami Beach. FL. Also in the City of Flagler Village. Mockingbird Trail . Fort Lauderdale. FL.
LAUREN SHAPIRO
Lauren Shapiro currently lives and works in Miami, Florida. Shapiro received an MFA from the University of Miami in 2016. She integrates ceramics and technology to uncover and communicate insights from the natural world, often collaborating with scientists to influence projects by the diverse ecosystems of South Florida and beyond. Selected solo exhibitions include "Future Pacific" (2020) at Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, Florida; "Garden Portals" (2021) at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, Florida; and "Fragile Terrains" (2018) at Bianca Boekel Galeria, São Paulo, Brazil. Selected group exhibitions include "Intricate Oceans, Coral in Contemporary Art" (2023) with Coastal Discovery Museum, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; "Design Miami" (2021) with Todd Merrill Studio, Miami, Florida; and "Projektraum M54" (2017) in Basel, Switzerland. Shapiro received awards and commissions from the New York Foundation for the Arts (2023), Knight Foundation(2021), Andy Warhol Foundation (2019), Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs (2020-2023), and Art in Public Places (2021,2022). Her artwork is part of the Soho House Art Collection and Jorge M. Perez Collection.
ANTONHY MAGNETTI
Anthony Magnetti, a Utah native, found his artistic passion while growing up in the rugged beauty of Southern Utah’s deserts, where he cultivated a deep appreciation for ceramics and nature. After earning his BFA from Southern Utah University, Magnetti embarked on a unique path, spending twelve years balancing his artistic practice with the demanding duties of a wildland firefighter. During this time, he discovered a profound sense of purpose in mentoring at-risk youth, using firefighting as a powerful tool for guidance and inspiration. His artistic practice took an unexpected turn when he began to collect discarded “happy birthday” balloons from remote wilderness areas during his firefighting duties. This exploration reflects both his fascination with human ingenuity and his poignant observations on the environmental impacts of human activities. “Finding waste in the woods is both exciting and disheartening. It is evidence of humanity’s incredible capabilities and our simultaneous disregard for our surroundings.”
In 2020, Magnetti made the decision to transition from the USDA Forest Service to pursue his art full-time and received an MFA from the University of Miami in 2023. He currently divides his time between Ogden, UT, and South Beach, FL, where he continues to create thought-provoking artworks that reflect his deep connection to nature and his commitment to environmental stewardship.
