“I enjoy the freedom of shaping clay directly with my hands… creating forms that express spontaneity,” says Yu Maeda. Based near Tokyo, the artist began experimenting with ceramics after a career focused on painting when he started transforming animals and imaginary beings into vibrant, lighthearted sculptures.

Maeda is influenced by the bold lines and graphic iconography of pop art, blending abstract forms and traditional Japanese imagery into eclectic works. Skulls, birds, and other creatures suggest a sacred or spiritual dimension.

The artist’s totem-like pieces merge ideas relating to ecosystems, nature’s cycles, and geometry, including timeless motifs like botanicals, insects, and the sun. As if recently unearthed with their bright pigments intact, his sculptures nod to ancient cultures, our reverence for nature, and our dependence on other animals and the environment to not only survive but thrive.

Discover more work, including the artist’s paintings, on Instagram.