Yu Maeda

Born in Kumamoto Prefecture in 1984, Maeda graduated from the design department of Kyoto Seika University. He worked as a freelancer, creating advertising animations. In 2013, he moved to Southern California and began working as a painter. Symmetrical beings made of geometric shapes, long tubular arms, gesturing hands, intensely expressive faces, and protruding tongues—his paintings redefine psychedelic art.
But it was upon returning to Japan in 2020 that Yu Maeda brought a unique perspective to the world of Japanese ceramics with the artistic body of work he developed on the other side of the Pacific. His sculptures, which often feature totemic forms, are a delightful blend of traditional Japanese aesthetics and pop art, imbued with Huichol influences. Maeda gives free rein to his imagination. His sculptures often evoke ancient myths and rituals, suggesting a profound connection to the earth and its cycles. As if recently unearthed with their pigments intact, his sculptures combine organic elements with geometric shapes and vibrant colors, creating visually striking compositions.