Kikuo Saito: Pictorial Clay

Curated by Jim Walsh. In 1980 and 1984 Kikuo Saito completed two cycles of pictorial ceramic plaques at the Clayworks Studio in lower Manhattan. At Clayworks, Saito was provided with fresh clay slabs onto which he incised, gouged and gently folded edges and finally applied liquid clay slips and glazes as the pieces continued to dry. After kiln firing many of the completed pieces presaged an approach that Saito would more fully explore in his works on canvas several years later. Subtle earth colors and delicate inflections of glazes characterize much of the work.