Mandy Henson to Exhibit Ceramic Sculpture in 2025 Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition

Mandy Henson has been selected to exhibit a sculptural ceramic work in the 20th Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition, presented by the Ceramic Artist Friendship Association, Inc. (CaFa). Her piece will be on view at The Nippon Gallery in The Nippon Club (145 West 57th Street, New York, NY) from May 15 to May 21, 2025, with a reception on Friday, May 16 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Henson’s practice centers around ceramic sculpture that explores materiality, psychological space, and form as metaphor. Her inclusion in this international competition speaks to the strength of her recent work and her ability to engage with themes of transformation, fragility, and presence through clay. The piece selected for this year’s exhibition continues her commitment to pushing the boundaries of sculptural ceramics, often blending abstract gesture with figurative suggestion.

The competition brings together 100 ceramic artists—50 from Tokyo and 50 from New York—and is juried by prominent figures in the world of art and design: Toshio OHI Chozaemon XI (Japan Art Academy), Shinichi Doi (former conservator at The Met), Cora Rosevear (former Associate Curator at MoMA), and Dr. Michele Bambling (Director, Japan Society Gallery). Works are judged on creativity, originality, technique, and aesthetic strength.

Now in its 20th year, the Tokyo-New York Friendship Ceramic Competition continues to serve as a vital cultural bridge between the two cities, supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, All Nippon Airways, and the Consulate General of Japan in New York, among others.

Henson’s sculptural contribution to this year’s exhibition underscores her ongoing evolution as a ceramic artist and affirms her voice in the broader dialogue of contemporary clay.