A whimsical sculpture of a girl with arms raised, wearing a polka-dot dress and a yellow duck-shaped float around her waist.
A colorful cartoon-style sculpture of a male character with black hair, wearing black shorts, and red boots, standing against a white background.
A humanoid sculpture with a head covered in multiple small eyes, dressed in red overalls with yellow patches and yellow boots, holding an ice cream cone.

Kensuke Yamada draws on his Japanese heritage to explore identity, folklore, and the emotions found in moments in everyday life. He has participated in numerous artist residencies and visiting artist programs, including The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, is included in museum and institutional collections, and he is currently an assistant professor at Chico State University in Chico, California.

Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions

2025 I You and Me and Everyone we know I Bonsack Gallery I John Burroughs School I St Louis, MO
2022 | Kensuke Yamada | Duane Reed Gallery | ST Louis, MO
2022 | As You are I was, As I am You will Be | Blue Spiral Gallery |Asheville, NC
2021 | Ron Johnson & Kensuke Yamada | Duane Reed Gallery | ST Louis, MO
2021 | Ramune Candy Roll| Windgate Museum of Art | Hendrix College 2020 |Collectively Alone | Works by Benjamin Krain and KensukeYamada | Historic Arkansas Museum | LittleRock | AR 2020 |Featured Artist Exhibit | Red Lodge Clay Center | Red Lodge | MT
2019 | "The fine art of Kensuke Yamada and Ricky Sikes | Boswell Mourot Fine Art | Little Rock | AR
2018 | Red Lodge Clay Center | Beth Lo and Kensuke Yamada | Red Lodge | MT
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

2025 I Reflections I Boltimore Clayworks I Boltimore MD 2025 I Small Works Exhibit I Sager Reeves Gallery I Columbia, MO 2025 I Seattle Art Fair I John Natsulus Gallery I Seattle, WA 2025 I San Francisco Art Fair I Duane Reed Gallery I San Francisco, CA
2025 I Who WE ARE I Red Lodge Clay Center I Red Lodge, MT 2024 I Celebrating 33 years I Patricia Rovzar Gallery I Seattle WA 2024 I The Things I want to Tell You I The Jane Hartsook Gallery I New York, NY 2024 I Elections Matter I Eutectic Gallery I Willamina, OR 2024 I Ceramics Invitational I Abel Contemporary I Stoughton, WI 2024 I Kensuke Yamada, Anna Johnson, & Sun Smith-Foret I Duane Reed Gallery I ST Louis, MO
2024 I The Weight of Wonder I John & Robyn Horn Gallery I Penland, NC
2024 I Robert Chapman Turner: Artist, Teacher, Explorer I Black Mountain College I Asheville NC
2024 I 50 years of making I The Clay Studio Philadelphia I Philadelphia, PA
2024 I Clay 24 I Blue Spiral Gallery I Asheville, NC
2023 | 30 Ceramics Sculptors John Natsoulas Gallery | Davis, CA
2023 | Figuring Space | The Clay Studio Philadelphia | Philadelphia | PA
2023 | Go Figure 2.0 | Blue Spiral Gallery | Ashville | NC
2022 |CELEBRATING 50 YEARS BUILDING THE FUTURE OF OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY|Provincetown Art Association and Museum | Provincetown | MA
2022 | September Exhibit | Sager Reeves Gallery | Columbia | MO
2021 | 29th Annual Group Exhibition | Patricia Rovar Gallery | Seattle, WA
2021 | The Joy of a Different World | Verduyn Gallery | Wortegem – Petegem, Belgium
2021 | Yunomi Invitational | Clay Akar
2021| Figure it Out | Patria Rovar Gallery
2021 | Small Favor | The Clay Studio Philadelphia
2020 | The Cup Show | Worcester Center for Crafts | Worcester | MA
2020 | Futured Artist Exhibition | Redlodge Clay Center| Redlodge | MT
2020 | Small Works | Sager Braudis Gallery
2020 | Yunomi Invitational Clay Akar
2020 | The Ceramics Invitational | Radius Gallery
2020 | Small Favor | The Clay Studio Philadelphia
2020 | Fired Up in the Natural State: Contemporary Ceramics | Baum Gallery | The University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR 2020 | Northwest Designer Craftsman Exhibit and Symposium | Schuck Art Center | Everett, WA
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
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 Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA 2013 | Our Community| Clay Studio Philadelphia2012 | 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 | Davis CA
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 | Chicago, IL 2011 | Naughty and Nice| Lillstreet Art Center | Chicago, IL 2011 | Composing the Modern| Lilstreet Art Center | Chicago, IL
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

Education

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

Lectures & Demonstrations

2025 I Peters Vallery School of Craft I Layton, NJ 2025 I John Burroughs School I St Louis, MO 2024 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA 2024 | Sweetwater Center for the Arts |Sewickley, PA
2024 | Figuring out| Penland School of Craft | Penland, NC 2024 | visiting artist | Office for the Arts at Harvard | Cambridge, MA 2024 | Go Figure | Clay Arts Vegas | Las Vegas, NV
2024 | visiting artist | Valdosta State University | Valdosta, GA
2023| visiting artist | St Louis Community College | St Louis, MO
2023 | Go Figure | Arrowmont School of Arts and Craft | Gatlinburg TN 2023 | Go Figure | Truro Center for the Arts | Castle Hill, MA 2023 | Go Figure public workshop | Watershed Center for the Ceramics Arts | Edgecomb, ME 2023 | K12 Teacher workshop | Watershed Center for the Ceramics Arts | Edgecomb, ME 2023 | Figuring Space symposium | The Clay Studio Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA
2022 | University of Alaska | Anchorage, AK 2022| Blackberry Hill Art Center, Orford, NH
2022| Touchstone Center for Crafts | Farmington, PA
2021| Truro Center for The Arts At Castle Hill | Truro, MA
2021| Zoom Lecture / demo | John Natsoulas Gallery | Davis CA
2021| Zoom Lecture demo | University of Florida College of Arts | Gainesville, FL 2021| NCECA Demonstration Artist
2021 |Zoom Lecture | Clay Art Center | Port Chester | NY
2020 |Zoom Lecture | The Clay Studio Philadelphia | Philadelphia | PA
2020 |Zoom Lecture | Vista College | Austin | TX | Art Appreciation course
2020 |Zoom Lecture | West Virginia University |Morgantown | VA | Ceramics course 2020 |Northwest 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 Northwest | Seattle, WA
2015 | Oxbow | 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

Publications

2023 | Kensuke Yamada | John Natsoulas Press | Davis CA 2022 | Mastering Sculpture: The Figure in Clay: A Guide to Capturing the Human Form for Ceramic Artists 2021 | Ceramic Monthly, “Exposure” section
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

Residencies

2022 | Pentaculum | Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts | Gatlinburg, TN
2016 | Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art | Nashville, TN
2015 | Pentaculum | Arrowmont School of 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

2021 | Arkansas Art Council Individual Artist Fellowship Award
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

Teaching Appointments

Assistant Professor, Chico State University, Chico, CA (2024 - pre)
Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR (2019 - 2024)
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, the University of Arkansas (2013 – 2016) Visiting Artist/ adjunct faculty | Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia PA (2012 – 2013)  

Permanent Collection

Asheville Art Museum | Asheville, NC
LSU Museum of Art | Baton Rouge, LA
Mint Museum | Charlotte | NC 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