Metro Curates 2015 Show at The Metropolitan Pavilion

The Metro Curates Show 2015 held at The Metropolitan Pavilion (Jan 21 - 25) is one of my favorite shows to attend.  It is definitely one of the must-see art shows for its unique and interesting pieces.  I attended the preview last night and noticed a few themes in the pieces that attracted my attention:  animals, nature, wearable objects and accessories, and bright colors!  Some of the pieces were ancient, thousands of years old while others were modern, but all had great stories behind them!

The first booth that caught my attention was Adelson Galleries, Boston (Booth 216) featuring Colombian artist Federico Uribe who uses unconventional materials to make his objects, such as color pencils, books, forks, and bullets!

Colombian Artist Federico Uribe

I fell in love with a pair of ceramic poodles by the late artist Kirk Mangus (Booth #104 Mindy Solomon Gallery of Miami). 

Eva Kwong with Juneau (white poodle) and D'Artaguan (black poodle) by Kirk Mangus

 I met the artist's wife, Eva Kwong, who told me that the poodles were a source of entertainment for her children and their classmates who enjoyed hugging and climbing the sturdy sculptures.  They are easy to care for too, just wash with soap and rinse!  

A side profile of Juneau

Ceramic sculptures by Kirk Mangus (Mindy Solomon Gallery of Miami)

(Mindy Solomon Gallery of Miami)

Coronet from Yoruba Culture, Nigeria (Douglas Dawson, Chicago)

Coronet from Yoruba Culture, Nigeria (Douglas Dawson, Chicago)

Yoruba Culture, Nigeria.  Gail Martin Gallery

Young Boys' Hats, Turkey 17th century, Gail Martin Gallery

Ceremonial Piece, Gail Martin Gallery

Young Woman's Skirt, Iraqwa People, Tanzania, Early 20th Century (Gail Martin Gallery)

I could spend so much time looking at these intricate and colorful "dresses" by Jane Lund (Forum Gallery NYC).  The artist is also originally from Queens, NY!  She assembles collected objects to create the pieces and incorporates self portraits into some of her work.

Garden Dress, 2012 by Jane Lund (Forum Gallery, NYC)

Dress by Jane Lund (Forum Gallery, NYC)

Ai Wei Wei: According to What? at Brooklyn Museum

I visited the Brooklyn Museum recently to see the Ai Wei Wei exhibit, According to What?  The exhibit ends August 10, 2014.

Photos by PJ Kim

My Japanese Discoveries: The Extraordinary Kogei Art and Contemporary Design from Toyama, Japan

I recently attended the Opening Ceremony of My Japanese Discoveries, at

Onishi Gallery, their latest project

intended to share highlights of Japanese heritage and culture. The project's inaugural show is in collaboration with Toyama Prefecture and runs from May 16th to 22nd.

Shakunaga Yukio (b.1954): Triangle Plate (The Hungry Ghost(No.2)2013 Stoneware

Highlights of this reception include catering provided by Danny Meyer's Union Square Events and sake tasting courtesy of Toyama Prefecture. Also featured will be plates and sake cups courtesy of Toyama's metalware manufacturer Nousaku.

Meet the Japanese Masters at Atelier Courbet on May 17th, 12-5pm

Eykyn Maclean Presents First U.S. Exhibition of Renowned Artist Kan Yasuda, May 6 – June 27 2014

Eykyn Maclean will present the first ever exhibition in the United States of internationally renowned sculptor Kan Yasuda. The exhibition, open to the public 6 May – 27 June at 23 East 67th Street, will feature over twenty of the artist’s new sculptures. Gallery partner Christopher Eykyn says, “Having followed Kan’s career in Europe and Japan, we are delighted to have the opportunity of introducing his work to an American audience. Working together with Kan, we have selected a group of works that best represent this important artist at the height of his career. I know that Kan’s sculpture will resonate as powerfully here as it does in the rest of the world.”

Born in Japan in 1945, Yasuda has divided his time between Hokkaido, Japan and Pietrasanta, Italy for over forty years, and his work deftly merges the cultural traditions of East and West. 

Asia Week New York 2014 - March 14 - March 22 2014

Today marks the 1st day of Asia Week New York 2014, which runs through March 22nd.  The event is open and free to the public.  The exhibits reveals the rarest and finest Asian examples of ceramics, jewelry, textiles, paintings, sculpture, bronzes, prints, photographs and jades, representing artistry, ingenuity and imagination from every corner and time period of Asia. 

The exhibitors include a top-tier roster of 47 international Asian art specialists-the largest number to date- and five major auction houses as well as 19 world-renowned museums and Asian cultural institutions.  Visit www.asiaweeknewyork.com for more information.

I had a chance to join the press preview for Asia Week this past Wednesday. It was a full day affair, where we flew through 30 galleries in less 10 hours.  I had an unforgettable time viewing some spectacular pieces with fascinating stories.  The galleries did an excellent job of explaining their finest pieces.  It was certainly a feast for the eyes, mind, and soul.  Here are some highlights.  

 This year, Scholten Japanese Art Gallery's exhibit is titled "Erotic Art of Japan: Everybody's Doing It".

(UN)Fair Show

Does the thought of Art make you quiver in fear? THE(UN)FAIR exhibition promises an exciting art experience--at once fun, wondrous, thought-provoking, and maybe even surprising. THE(UN)FAIR returns for its second year at 500 West 52nd St. 4th Fl in midtown Manhattan from March 5–9, 2014. This art-filled extravaganza, was established to celebrate passion rather than fashion!

Tracy Snelling's fun grown-up version of the nostalgic grade school dioramas. You can't tell in the photo, but some of the windows in the building had videos of some very adult situations going on...I felt a bit voyeuristic.

Tracy Snelling - Bad Girl, mixed media

Tracy Snelling - Drift Liquors, mixed media

 THE(UN)FAIR rekindles the guerilla-style art show amidst the bustle of Armory Arts Week, exhibiting paintings and sculptures from both established and emerging artists,

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Leather Japan 2014

For Mercedes Benz Fashion Week,  Leather Japan showcased at contemporary art gallery, Thomas Erben Gallery, featuring a group of select contemporary leather craft works from the fields of fashion, craft work, and art.  The creations ranged from ancient Japanese traditional artifacts to everyday goods and artistic works.  For this special exhibition, nine designers and ten contemporary artists from Japan and abroad created original pieces with the theme “Japanese Leather”.

 It was amazing to see these quality Japanese leather goods, made by craftsmen using top caliber artisan techniques.  s.

I also bumped into Mr. Kosuke Tsumura, a well known Japanese designer of brand Final Home.  And I also met  the famous Susie Bubble who was very sweet and graciously accepted a photo request from me and friend

Ishikawa Arts Now at Japan Society: February 11 - February 14

Ishikawa Arts Now, a juried display of traditional and modern craft, art, and design products, organized by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government of Japan, held a reception and opening preview at the Japan Society on the evening of Feb 10th, 2014.  The display from Ishikawa Arts Now, runs through February 14th at the Japan Society (free admission), located at 333 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017.

Kutani Hand-painted Incense Burner, Porcelain by Toide Masahiko

In attendance were Koichiro Eno (Director of Ishikawa Prefecture Department, JETRO New York), Celebrity Chef Michael Romano (Ambassador of Culture and Fine Dining of Ishikawa Prefecture), Museum of Arts and Design curators David McFadden and Ron Labaco.  

Urushi Rider's Helmet "Phoenix" by Kaba Jikichi Lacquerware Company

Opening Remarks were made by Mr. Eno and Mr. Jun Ishihara, Consul for the General Consulate of Japan in New York.  MAD's Mr. McFadden spoke briefly about the 19 pieces that were selected by Mr. Labaco and Mr. McFadden.  He lauded the highly trained artists who fuse modern and traditional art, keeping the old crafts alive and new.  

One of the artists, whose piece was selected for the juried display was artist Yuki Nakamura, who created "Universal Collection_24", made a special appearance. 

The artist traveled from Ishikawa prefecture for the event.  Yuki Nakamura's ability to collect random bits of shell, wood, and bone fuse them together with sap-derived lacquer never results in anything less than magical.  Once the piece has been traditionally lacquered and polished, its organic lines reflect the flow of all living things.

You can shop select craft at theartofjapan.net or contact Alice Chin a.chin@theartoftravel.net.

Left to Right: Mr. Koichiro, Director of Ishikawa Prefecture Department, JETRO New York, Mr. Ron Labaco, Ms. Dana Galbreath, Mr. David McFadden, Mr. Shinichi Doi, Lauren Scharf , Evelyn Teploff Mugii, and Alice Chin 

Style.Uz Art Week: The Last Samurai: Mysterious Japan

New York Chinese Film Festival Closing Night and Award Ceremony

Producer Sid Ganis presenting actor Vicky Zhou Wei with Outstanding Asian Artist Award.

Actor Wu Xiubo

Asia Week 2013 Press Walk

It's a rare event that will have me gladly wake up at 6am without pressing the snooze button.   But at 8am yesterday, I was at China 2000 Fine Art, eager to partake in the Asia Week New York's Press Walk.  Asia Week's PR maven, Marilyn White led a group to preview some of the galleries participating in Asia Week New York, the annual collaboration of international Asian art specialists, major auction houses, museums and Asian cultural institutions.  We visited around 30 galleries in the span of 12 hours and had a fascinating, eye-opening and education experience.

At its fifth year, the Asia Week takes place in metropolitan New York with a diverse group of galleries showing antiques, traditional and contemporary artwork from Asia inluding China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, and is open to the public from March 15 - March 23, 2013.

Here are a few highlights of my day.

Dai Ichi Arts 
Contemporary Chinese and Japanese
100 Central Park South 11C,
Newy York, NY 10019

Dai Ichi Art's exhibit, The Best of the Two Contemporary Asian Countries:  Chinese Shuimo (水墨 water ink) Paintings and Japanese Ceramics, truly was a representation of the perfect melding of Western and Eastern techniques in Chinese Shuimo Paintings and Japanese Ceramics.

Kato Tsubusa (b. 1962) Square Bowl, 2008.  Pale blue glazed porcelain

Hayashi Yasuo 林康夫, Kawabata Kentaro  小原康裕,  Miwa Kazuhiko 三輪和彥, Nagae Shigekazu 長江重和, Wada Morihiro 和田守卑良 and Wakao Toshisada 若尾利貞 represent the golden age and the modern renaissance of ceramic making in Japan.  Their  work is traditional yet curretn, architectural yet abstract; disciplined yet free spirited.

Li Huisheng 李惠生, Camels in Tian Shen Mountain (2002)

Li Huisheng 李惠生, rediscovers the essence of traditional Shuimo paintings in his unique, expressive and vigourous style.

Asia Week March 16- March 24

Asia Week is happening this week and ends March 24th.  With exhibitions presented by more than 30 prominent Asian art dealers from the U.S. and abroad, auctions at, Bonhams, Christie’s, Doyle New York, iGavel, and Sotheby’s as well as dozens of special events are planned for this period, this is not something you want to miss!