A celebration of multicultural collaboration through contemporary
ceramics and exquisite ikebana arrangements
Adam Silverman creates ambitious ceramic work with site-specific
materials that engage their places of origin. Similar to a chef cooking
with local ingredients, his works are infused with the history, culture,
issues and spirit of a place. In the fall of 2019, before the
coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, Silverman began a project to
address the political and cultural divisions in America. Silverman
collected materials (clay, wood ash and water) from every state and
inhabited US territory and combined them into a single, new, fully
integrated material. This material was then used to create 56 ceremonial
vessels that celebrate the nation's diversity and the idea of radical
inclusivity. A series of 56 Ikebana arrangements made by teachers and
students at Sogetsu Ikebana Los Angeles are placed in Silverman's
vessels, creating a powerful pairing of American materials and symbols
with Japanese traditions.
Adam Silverman (born 1963) is a Los Angeles-based artist known for
his experimental processes and resulting sculptural vessels. He is
regarded as one of the most dynamic practitioners dedicated to ceramics
today. Silverman received bachelor degrees in both fine art and
architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design.
